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Illinois Expects To Put Point Guard Hopes In Freshman Kasparas Jakučionis

Shandel Richardson|
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gestures after the game against the Duquesne Dukes of the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gestures after the game against the Duquesne Dukes of the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports | Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

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Illinois Fighting Illini

The way incoming freshman Kasparas Jakučionis played this summer may have solidified the starting point guard spot for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

After an impressive showing in FIBA U18 championships, he is drawing praise from plenty of college basketball analysts. Former Illini player Mike Latulip, who is a contributor to the The Field of 68 podcast, said Jakucionis is the point this season.


"I think he committed maybe in May," Latulip said. "Through April, you're kind of like, `Who's going to be the guy? Who's going the guy to where you can properly allocate roles for this team.' Role allocation is important when you return only two guys. Who's going to be the guy and who's going to be the guy that everyone plays off and I think that's Jakučionis."

The Illini have the option of using Kylan Boswell or Tre White at point but Jaukucionis is the best facilitator on the roster. He is considered a one-and-done prospect who could go in the first round of next summer's NBA draft.

"The add of Kasparas makes the rest of this roster make sense," Latulip said. "I don't think you were going to say, `Hey, we want Tre White to be our primary ball-handler, primary guy. I don't think you wanted it to be Kylan Boswell. Even though these guys may be capable of it, but what's your ceiling as a team if that's the case." 

Latulip feels Jakucionis helps bring out the best in newcomers like freshmen Will Riley and Morez Johnson.

"What Kasparas allows those guys to do is fall back into their natural positions," Latulip said. "Those guys can just operate. They don't have to overextend ... He puts that roster together." 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here