BROOKLYN, New York — Not the draft Illinois fans were hoping for, and probably not the night Kasparas Jakučionis was hoping for, but Jakučionis is officially an Illini ‘one-and-done’.
After a long night in the green room, with the 20th pick, the Miami Heat selected KJ.
He becomes the youngest Illini to be drafted in the draft as a 19-year-old, a record he will likely hold for less than a day.
The Lithuanian averaged 32 minutes with 15 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. As an Illini, he will be best remembered for his high-octane passing ability and his crafty finishes at the rim. An impressive freshman campaign, earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors, and voted to the Second All-Big Ten team.
Before his year at Illinois, KJ played professionally in Lithuania and spent two seasons in Spain playing for FC Barcelona.
The most glaring concern, which no doubt the Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will need to address, is KJ’s turnover issues. This past season, he had five or more turnovers in 12 games, including both tournament games against Xavier and Kentucky. But, of course, the upside is his scoring ability and what he can become as a passer in the NBA.
And don’t forget, the young phenom is only 19. He will likely be afforded plenty of opportunity early on in his career.