2025 NBA Draft: Kasparas Jakucionis
NBA Draft Scouting Report
Kasparas Jakucionis
Height/Weight: 6’6, 205lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Illinois
Birthdate: May 29th, 2006
Player Overview
Kasparas Jakucionis is a do-it-all guard who can make all of his teammates better when he’s on the floor. Offensively, Kasparas doesn’t overwhelm defenders with his athletic prowess, but he attacks them with his mind. Jakucionis attacks at great angles, creating great looks for himself and his teammates. His three-level scoring flashes show that he has a high offensive ceiling while his playmaking/free throw rate show his offensive floor is very high. Defensively, Kasparas has some work to do. His lower level of athleticism can cause him to struggle on ball and with screens. However, his high basketball IQ and improving physical frame should aid in Kasparas becoming a plus defender.
Strengths
Three-Level Scoring
Kasparas has shown the ability to get downhill and attack the rim while still posing as a shooting threat from both the mid-range and from three. He currently shoots 52% from two and 42% from three with a TS% of just over 64%. With this in mind, 58% of Kasparas’ shots come as jumpers and 32% come at the rim. A healthy shot diet like this paired with high efficiency is something that’s very translatable to the next level.
Playmaking
As Kasparas excels at getting to the cup, he does a great job of drawing in extra defenders. From there he can make almost any pass, with him often showcasing his ability to throw one-hand passes or fit passes into tight windows. Jakucionis has game-breaking vision to the point where he’s almost too selfless at times and can spot an open man from any spot on the floor.
Foul-Drawing
In the first three games of Jakucionis’ college career, he only made a total of four field goals. However, he still managed to average nine points per game. His elite free throw rate shows just how high his scoring floor is. Whether he’s hitting shots or not Kasparas always finds himself at the line. While this is commonly viewed as solely a scoring skill, drawing fouls can also have a great impact on the opposing team’s lineup rotations.
Concerns
Athleticism
Kasparas has a large frame for a lead guard, but his athleticism is a question mark that could hold him back in certain areas. His low speed could affect his ability to create separation and guard on-ball. Additionally, his leaping ability may hurt his rebounding and finishing ability. Jakucionis may be able to make up for these things through his pace and IQ, but it’s definitely something to monitor.
Turnovers
As Jakucionis has made his fair share of fancy passes, he’s taken many risks along the way. Turning the ball over four times per game, he’s fallen into the habit of throwing sloppy or risky passes that give the opposing team extra opportunities. These lulls in decision-making are one of the more fixable habits, but the more concerning turnovers come through Kasparas’ handle.
Ball-Handling
To be a true lead guard at the next level, Jakucionis will have to tighten up his handle. While a good amount of his turnovers come from improper decision-making, plenty more come from Kasparas getting picked and having a loose handle. A dynamic handle can help to create the separation that his low speed won’t allow for. On top of this, it will play an integral role in his ability to be the primary initiator of an offense at the next level.
Analytics
Predictive Value
While analytics and statistics don’t tell the entire story, there’s no denying that many have been good indicators of success at the next level. Recently, user “criggsnba” on X correlated 25 statistics to NBA VORP/yr from 179 collegiate guards drafted between 2008 and 2023. VORP represents “value over replacement player” and estimates the points per 100 team possessions a player scores over their replacement. VORP has been used since the 1970s and is one of the best statistical indicators of success in the NBA. The findings showed BPM (box plus-minus), net rating, and TS% were some of the stats that correlated the most among guards.
Kasparas’ Situation
Through ten games Jakucionis sits at a BPM of 9.2, an offensive rating of 115.5, a defensive rating of 86.8, and a TS% of 64.4%. Freshmen who have fit each of these thresholds over the course of an entire season include number-one picks like Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, and Karl-Anthony Towns. While I do recognize that queries at this point in the season can be a bit premature, it gives a good idea of the trajectory Kasparas is on.