Kasparas Jakucionis, right, shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 20th overall by the Miami Heat during the first round of the NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday in New York.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images/TNS
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BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Kasparas Jakucionis had to wait longer than most everyone expected to hear his name called during the first round of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center.
Other point guards went off the board early. Five of them before the Illinois guard, including Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears at No. 7 to the New Orleans Pelicans and BYU’s Egor Demin at No. 8 to the Brooklyn Nets.
Always an Every Day Guy pic.twitter.com/TSBdpKwPRc
— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) June 26, 2025
Jakucionis simply had to have some patience. The former Illinois guard was selected with the No. 20 pick in the first round by the Miami Heat.
Jakucionis was immediately followed to the stage for the traditional hand shake and photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver by Illini teammate Will Riley, who went No. 21 to the Utah Jazz with his draft rights reportedly on the move to the Washington Wizards.
Pat’s hype! pic.twitter.com/3XzyhUIoen
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 26, 2025
Jakucionis and Riley are the first pair of Illinois teammates selected in the first round of the NBA draft since Deron Williams and Luther Head in 2005. The only other Illini pair to do the same were Nick Anderson and Kenny Battle in 1989.
Let’s gooooo! 🔥 https://t.co/2bUzjWVluW
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 26, 2025
Jakucionis earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Third Team honors after averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He shot 44 percent overall, 32 percent from three-point range and 84 percent at the free throw line.
Will’s checkin’ in from Brooklyn 🎤 pic.twitter.com/C8yPOBNAQs
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) June 26, 2025
“I think he’s a much better shooter than his numbers indicated over the last part of the season,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “His coach, Brad Underwood, feels he’s going to be a better NBA player than he was a college player. … He’s got a really good feel for the game and a really good feel for reading situations.”
Will Riley is selected 21st overall by the @utahjazz in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KUJKQb3jrn
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
A strong finish to his freshman year at Illinois put Riley in the first round conversation. The 6-foot-8 wing spent most of the season coming off the bench and was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 12.6 points as a 43/33/72 shooter to go with 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.