Miami, FL. – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have selected guard Kasparas Jakučionis in the first round (20th overall) of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Jakučionis started all 33 games he appeared in as a freshman at the University of Illinois, averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 31.7 minutes per game. He shot 44% from the field and set a freshman school record with 84.5% from the free-throw line. He received Big Ten All-Freshmen honors and was selected to the All-B1G Second Team by the Associated Press and the All-B1G Third Team by coaches and media. He established the freshman school record for 20-point games with 10 and tied the freshman record for total points.
Jakučionis led the team in points, assists, and free throws made, and ranked second in steals, defensive rebounds, and minutes played. He recorded five double-doubles, including two points-assists double-doubles—notably, 12 points and a school-record 13 assists on November 8, and 16 points with a freshman NCAA Tournament record 10 assists in the first-round victory against Xavier on March 21. Additionally, he set the Illinois freshman record for assists in a season opener with seven on November 4.
During the 2023-24 season, Jakučionis played in 19 games for FC Barcelona, averaging 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He maintained shooting percentages of 48% from the field, 38% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. He recorded ten games with 20 or more points, including a career-high 39 points on February 3. Additionally, on February 11, he achieved a triple-double with 26 points, 17 rebounds, and 11 assists.
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