BROOKLYN — Brad Underwood is settling in nicely to his draft night routine. Dress up in some dapper attire, hug, shake hands, and toast to another program alum going to the NBA. Then, do it again as soon as next year.
The Illini have now had three first-round picks over the last two years. Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu (a second-round pick in 2021) is on his second contract in the league. Underwood attended draft parties in Chicago for Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr., and on Wednesday, he dipped into a new territory with a seat in the green room at Barclays Center to celebrate Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley.
The one-and-done teammates went back-to-back with Jakucionis landing at 20th overall to Miami and Riley immediately following at 21st to Washington. That's just the third time in program history that Illinois basketball has had two first-round picks in the same draft.