Illinois basketball will send multiple players into the NBA next season, and this gives fans one of many reasons to watch The Association.
It has been a long time since the Illini have had multiple players selected in the first round. You have to go back 20 years to the 2005 NBA Draft when Deron Williams and Luther Head were both selected.
Well, we are about to hit the reset button on that stat, as both Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley will likely be picked in the first round on Wednesday night.
In the latest NBA Mock Draft by Matt Babcock of Babcock Hoops, Jakucionis is slated to go in the top 20 at No. 16. This isn’t a terrible spot for him, as the Memphis Grizzlies are his projected landing spot.
New on @BabcockHoops: Updated 2025 NBA Mock Draft
The latest intel, movement, and projections with the NBA Draft just one day away: 👇https://t.co/UmVWAaZWnJ
— Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) June 24, 2025
Will Riley isn’t as lucky, though. Babcock has Riley getting selected with the No. 23 pick in the first round. While this is around where most mock drafts have him going, Babcock has one of the worst options choosing him, the New Orleans Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have much in the way of structure for Will Riley
I want Riley to go to a team where he can develop and learn from the players around him. With the Pelicans, he is going to a franchise that has zero direction and is in desperate need of some leadership.
Last season, New Orleans limped their way to a 21-61 record. The small semblance of leadership they did have, CJ McCollum, they just jettisoned him to Washington in exchange for Jordan Poole.
The only silver lining of the Pelicans potentially drafting Riley is that Brandon Ingram has a similar game and could maybe help develop Riley. Both are long athletes who can score from all levels of the floor. That is me trying to find some positivity in New Orleans having the chance to draft Riley.