Illinois, a consensus top-15 college basketball program of all time, had just one NBA Draft pick from 2007-20.
With Illini freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley set to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, Brad Underwood will have had five of his former players drafted since 2021.
That’s quite the turnaround for the Illinois program.
It started with Ayo Dosunmu, an in-state high school star that stayed home and was then picked 38th overall in 2021 by his hometown Chicago Bulls.
Next came Brandin Podziemski — who wasn’t announced as an Illini when he was picked 19th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2023 — but was a Big Ten champion with Illinois in his freshman season.
Brad Underwood’s then secured his next NBA player, Terrence Shannon Jr., through the transfer portal. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected TSJ 27th overall after he led Illinois to an Elite Eight in 2024.
Finally, the Illinois coaching staff went international to get their one-and-done stars. Kasparas Jakucionis of Lithuania and Will Riley of Canada are set to be Illinois’ latest first round picks.
Illinois has collected NBA-level talent in a variety of ways in recent years, which is a huge reason why the program has found success. From locking up in-state prep recruits, to stealing star transfers, and scouting international superstars, Underwood has shown a willingness to adapt in the constantly changing basketball landscape.
Underwood is a fan of his rosters getting old, and staying old. An incredibly young roster this past season that included Jakucionis and Riley didn’t fit Underwood’s typical roster mold, but the team still found success.
Jakucionis, a third-team All-Big Ten player, had a spectacular season as a ball-dominant point guard that had the weight of the world on his shoulders consistently. Averaging 15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 4.7 APG, he had one of the greatest freshman seasons in Illinois history.
Riley, the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, had an up-and-down campaign but showed flashes of brilliance many times. A 31-point outbreak in the first game of the year. 27, 9, and 7 on the road at Minnesota. 22 points in the Round of 64. When he was on...he was ON.
Jakucionis and Riley bought into Brad Underwood’s culture and they’re better off because of it. The Illinois culture is a real thing. The NBA world is starting to take notice of that fact.
It's no surprise that Dosunmu, Podziemski, and Shannon Jr. have all had successful NBA careers despite not being lottery picks and not being given immediate playing time.
Brandin Podziemski stats in the 2025 playoffs:
11.3 PTS
5.0 REBS
3.1 AST
1.3 STL
From the Play-In at San fran to the final buzzer in Minnesota, Brandin Podziemski showed out in his first playoff run. pic.twitter.com/oih3dzJsJP
— PodZmuse (@PodZMuse2) May 31, 2025
Terrence Shannon Jr today in a HUGE win against OKC in the Western Conference finals..
15 points
5-8 FG
1-3 3PT
4-4 FT
All in 15 Minutes !!
We all knew bro could hoop it was just a matter of time before he got his opportunity. How we feeling?? Is he the X Factor for the… pic.twitter.com/t1KH7JxUII
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) May 25, 2025
Despite spending just around nine months in Champaign, Jakucionis and Riley are Illini forever. Their college careers are finished, but their next chapter begins shortly.