CHAMPAIGN — Parked on the north side of the State Farm Center in what's becoming a go-to spot for in-house guests, Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis watched two freshmen power Illinois to a win over Indiana.
It wasn't long ago that Riley and Jakucionis were the two freshmen leading the Illini to Big Ten wins on their way to becoming one-and-done NBA Draft picks. The star freshman mantle has been passed to Keaton Wagler, a projected lottery pick, and David Mirkovic. But Riley and Jakucionis made it a point during NBA All-Star Weekend to return to the college that helped chart their courses to the NBA, even as some tiny parts of them struggle to wrap their head around the idea that they're in the NBA and not college basketball.
"It feels like yesterday," Riley said. "It feels like I should be on the court right now. It's crazy. It went by very quick, but super extremely blessed I got put in that situation."
Jakucionis was the No. 20 overall pick in last summer's draft by the Miami Heat after being named Second Team All-Big Ten and averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Illini. Riley was selected No. 21 overall by the Utah Jazz and was immediately traded to the Washington Wizards after being named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Both were in the locker room, along with former big man Dain Dainja, following the win over Indiana. Former guard Terrence Shannon Jr., now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was around the team for the week and helped the Illini prep for Sunday's win over Indiana by mimicking Indiana star Lamar Wilkerson in practice this week.