Lithuanian Point Guards

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So Jakucionis played 10minutes, made one shooting attempt and made it (a three), grabbed 2rbs, stole the ball and turn the ball over once. And he finished with best +/- on the worlds team. Not enough of chance for him. Specially that from the highlights it was seen that the coach threw him at 2 mainly, not giving a ball into his hands. I think generally for 17yo it's still tough to complete athleticially with most athletic players of 17-19yo in the world, but he still had to play more, IMO.

Nevertheless, another good camp for him. Scouts will say many good words on him, already did. Lithuanians mature later and he will be better than many of these elite guys. Personally I think he's more talented than Traore who ATM has athletic advantage, but not an advantage in feel for the game. I would bet Jakucionis will be better player in the long run, but Traore will be drafted higher.

Basically Worlds coach played 5 dudes around 30min and he didn't care much about the other. No that's hardcore wish to win. Dude's seem that as a chance for his career, my goodness.

https://storage.googleapis.com/usab-com-prod/upload/2024/04/14/7e9dbf38-7c2d-4e80-a391-4bcaebd3a6aa.pdf

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Kasparas Jakučionis with another dominant game and MVP award as his Barca won Catalonia Junior tournament. Dropped 31pts with amazing efficiency (6/8, 6/9, 1/1). Interesting that in Joventut roster played Croatian Michael Ruzic who already has a role in Eurocup team.

Nailed 2 big threes in the last minute:

https://twitter.com/mannschaft069/status/1782106756052660261

Kasparas really shows amazing strides of his development. I'm not sure Lithuania ever had more dominant 17yo guard. Sarunas Marciulionis' upside is most likely higher, but I'm not sure 17yo Marciulionis was that good. Actually I doubt as Rooney seemed to be a bit of late bloomer. Maybe we can speak about Macijauskas, but also probably no. Macas was averaging 13.3ppg and 9.5eff as 18yo in EB U18. Last summer Jakucionis exceeded these numbers at this stage being one year younger and playing among older guys. Macijauskas, on other hand, as 17yo already was scoring 10.7ppg in 18mpg in LKL which is impressive. I think Kasparas could do that this season as well playing for the weakest clubs or mid tier of LKL.

Anyway, there's also interview with him on his Nike Hoop Summit. He said he was sick at the beginning and didn't show his best in this event. Also he said he has not yet decided whenever he will choose NCAA or stay in Europe. He also looking forward to represent senior LTU NT eventually:

https://twitter.com/_proinsight/status/1781029334226182369

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Spanish fans already calling Jakucionis the main project of Barca team. Some nasty stuff from Kasparas. That possession when he split the defence and went for a dunk. Nasty. And that speed he elevated in transition, next level. We really witness special player. Hopefully his transition to PRO will be smooth.

I have a feeling Jakucionis will be more impactful for the NT than Buzelis.

Here's highlights:

https://twitter.com/PursalsFerran/status/1782418065239450106

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Gonzalez and Jakucionis emerged as the top Youth stars of stack Spanish basketball. Tomorrow starts 2024 Junior Spanish Championship. Again, most likely Real vs Barca should be along the way and Gonzalez vs Jakucionis will clash again.

Watching how easily Jakucionis creates shots for himself, how quickly he can launch a three, how his passing culture improving and what crazy motor he has, I think he is on the same tier talent wise with Sarunas Marciulionis more or less. I do think that he's more dominant prospect than any other guard not named Rooney LTU basketball ever had. I tend to treat Marciulionis and Jasikevicius as our best guards (with all duo respect to Siska, Macas, Kurtinaitis), they made the biggest impact for LTU basketball, and I don't know if Jakucionis can get there (Jasikevicius achieved so much because of his tremendous character), but he has everything, all tools to achieve that and now it's only a matter of consistent work, determination, right mentality (character) and discipline/luck (no injuries). So far he shows amazing leadership. He carries U18 Barca is ultimate leader and we never had such player in such situation. Velicka was quickly of that kind of environment for whatever reasons. Maybe only Jokubaitis could be close to this, but he wasn't so explosive as Kasparas being 17-18 years old. Kasparas is faster, more athletic, more explosive, much more dominant shooter and has much more ISO game. Jokubaitis just had superior decision making game and passing compared to Kasparas.

Let's see what Jakucionis brings next in Spanish Junior champ and later in ANGT finals.

https://www.feb.es/2024/4/27/baloncesto/los-nombres-del-futuro-dan-cita-junior-huelva/97655.aspx

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Interesting development of Barca team. Seems like Jokubaitis is gonner (I hope so and I have little doubt it's happening). And now the message is that Jakucionis will compete with Juani Marcos for the third PG spot (meaning Sato, Rubio takes first too). If Jakucionis doesn't prevail, he will most likely be loaned. Juani Marcos played for Girona in ACB and was scoring 9.5ppg. He is 2000 born, meaning Jakucionis is 6 years younger. It might be interesting indication where Jakucionis could stand at PRO level. If he's on the same tier with Marcos or even better, that means he's already solid player for lower tier ACB team.

I really hope Jakucionis will be loaned. Sticking with Barca and learning from Rubio has certain advantages, but I think it's always better to play more than just to grind in practices.

https://twitter.com/JordiColomeB/status/1785275350408208840

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Jakucionis with a hero ball. Makes two big threes, as I understand down the stretch and goes of do or die difficult three. He misses. Notice how Butajevas stands open, but he doesn't pass the ball to him, he goes by himself till the end. That's ultimate leader's position, hero ball. Is that good? IMO, Jakucionis had to pass the ball and make the right play. Open shot from Butajevas is better than contested shot by Jakucionis even if he made few shots before. But do I like this? In this particular situations, yes I do. Jakucionis shows something that LTU players usually don't. He is really egoistic and ISO orientated and wants to take over the games. We need individual standouts and Jakucionis is one of them:

https://twitter.com/BaloncestoESP/status/1785396680268865614

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Jakucionis destroyed Real Madrid in the final and won Spanish Junior Championship. Dropped 26pts, 9rbs, 6as. He dropped 6/12 threes.

Gonzalez with scrubby game going 2/12 from three and he's a good prospect, projected top 10 in next NBA draft. He ended up with 8eff and Jakucionis 30eff. Not the first time Jakucionis destroys Gonzalez.

In the semi he also carried Barca being clutch. Here's the highs from that stretch.

How fun is to have a player who can take the ball and make it done down the stretch? LTU BB needed that kind of guard badly.

https://twitter.com/BaloncestoESP/status/1786489532516294927

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Jakucionis and Butajevas having a good time. In summer Jakucionis will have to do the same with U18 LTU jerseys

https://twitter.com/S_Rabinal/status/1786743742931537969

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Jakucionis is such dynamic player. My goodness. He gets where he wants, he can dish the ball, his three point game is flawless, he plays within amazing tempo and he seems to be tough as nails. He's only yet to turn 18, but he already shows some amazing skill and sharpness. I think he might become a first Lithuanian guard who will be drafted in the first round. That's realistic possibility. He will be absolutely huge for the NT, hands down. Good chemistery with Butajevas too. U18 this summer will be fun:

https://twitter.com/hoopercesto/status/1787046017545777504

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Jakucionis is such dynamic player. My goodness. He gets where he wants, he can dish the ball, his three point game is flawless, he plays within amazing tempo and he seems to be tough as nails. He's only yet to turn 18, but he already shows some amazing skill and sharpness. I think he might become a first Lithuanian guard who will be drafted in the first round. That's realistic possibility. He will be absolutely huge for the NT, hands down. Good chemistery with Butajevas too. U18 this summer will be fun:

https://twitter.com/hoopercesto/status/1787046017545777504

I really hope he will choose ACB road as his next step. He's such a great up tempo killer. ACB is perfect for him. I really hope slow ass NCAA and rookie seasons restrictions won't be his choice. Just go play PRO, Kasparas. He can already mess around in ACB.

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Barca fans want Jakucionis in the place of Jokubaitis next season which is only logical. But I hope Jakucionis will be loaned somewhere where he could get 20min+ in ACB. Some-one called him the best thing since Gasol coming from Barca Youth system. And think that may not be false.

Speaking about best 2006 gen players, Gonzalez is treated probably the best international player, but Jakucionis not the first time outplay him and he was better than him in ANGT too. Nolan Traore was better than Jakucionis in NHS, but I don't see him being more special player long term. I miss an X factor, like Jakucionis shooting f.e. Also Jakucionis couldn't show his best in NHS because of illness. 2006 gen is very interesting,Mario Saint- Supery is also very interesting player, but Jakucionis sis right there at the top of best international players from this gen.

I treat Jakucionis and Gonzalez as best prospects long term of 2006 internationally, but even for Gonzalez last half of year was meh.

One scout expressed one very correct thought. He said, like, what's happening, how does 17yo is able to knock down 6 threes per game? The norm is that players at this age kinda suck with shooting. Most guys prior NCAA are raw and crappy shooters. Jakucionis already demonstrates polished trigger from down town with impressive shooting ritual. Now he's at the pace of being legitimate force as 20yo if his development arc will be as crazy dynamic as it is now. I'm starting to believe that 21yo Jakucionis not only will be legitimate candidate to make 2027 WC team, but he may even challenge all guards overall in competition for the lead guard position. ATM he's nearly on BB prodigy level, and if it will translate to PRO directly (as it happened with Topic) he will be pretty much on generational talent tier. Kinda wished Barcelona gave him more chances already in ACB, but Grimaus Barca can barely survive ACB games ATM so they won't be throwing any youngsters in. Jokubaitis played only 8 minutes in the last game.

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Stuknys still a guy to keep an eye on. He may be something like Kariniauskas, or maybe he could even push for something more:

https://x.com/CBB_Europe/status/1792563431926870146

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For those who didn't follow Marciulionis during the season, there's a chance to spend quality 41 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=062s...nnel=VideoCoor.

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OK, I saw it. Jakucionis dished 9 assists in 13 minutes. Dominant passing. Super quick decisions. Takes risky choices and makes some turnovers, but that vision, timing and sharpness of facilitating - that's Jasikevicius' level of passing and likely even superior. Highly creative and playing within intense pace. He took only one shot which shows he doesn't care how he impacts the game. He also already with 3 steals and tons of deflections. He just works full time at both ends.

Hands down, star material alert. My projection is that he will become second best guard of all time after S. Marciulionis.

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Jakučionis finished with 17 assists. That's all time ANGT record. Very interesting that he passed two Lithuanians with 16 assists. One Grigonis 2011-2012. Other Velicka 2015-2016.

https://x.com/BasketNews_lt/status/1793639958328356972

We talked with DC about Kulboka a bit. But I think Velicka turning only into Eurocup material is the biggest disappointment thus far from 20's prospects.

Anyway, Jakucionis looks great, here's highlights:

https://x.com/Dugongcesto/status/1793639494899659066