Lithuanian Point Guards

[Straight forward]

Yes I agree. Those are great numbers. I love his assists and steals vs. turnovers ratios! (Although he needs to work on his three point shot.)

I take it that was an U18 club team tournament?

Euroleague U18

[Straight forward]

And we have Jakucionis at 15 spot. That's the highest projection so far. We literally never had a pure guard projected as lottery in the NBA. Hell, we didn't ever had a guard in first round ever. This 2025 NBA draft is called drastically stronger than 2024, meaning if Jakucionis would be selected 15-18, he basically would be selected higher than Buzelis at 11 in extremely crappy draft. Nothing to take from Buzelis, I think he's the best prospect in that class, but I'm super excited to see Lihuanian guard being that good. That's history. And Jakucionis, Buzelis coming at the right time, being the same age nearly, will be big turn around for our basketball:

15. Kasparas Jakucionis | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Illinois


Jakucionis is a 6-4 combo guard who has thrived at every single stage of his career with Barcelona’s youth team. He won the MVP of the Zadar region of 2023’s Next Generation Tournament, then followed it with the MVP in the Belgrade section of the tournament this season while also making the overall All-Tournament team. Long one of the best passers in the age group, the Lithuanian playmaker has an innate feel out of ball screens, with the ability to find open teammates from just about any angle. His ball-screen game flows incredibly well off that skill, as he’s displayed the ability to hit 3s out of pull-up situations and drive all the way to the rim, using his strong frame to keep defenders on his hip. He’s an extremely creative guard with good footwork, good handle and high feel for the game. He could stand to tighten his handle a touch if he’s going to play on the ball long-term, but he is a strong dribble-pass-shoot bet. He’ll attend Illinois this year, where I’m expecting him to share a backcourt with Kylan Boswell. Jakucionis is my favorite among the members of Illinois’ loaded freshman class.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5580289/2024/07/10/2025-nba-mock-draft-cooper-flagg-dylan-harper-prospects/

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis cooking in the summer league Well, sort of. 8pts in 14min is pretty good. I think he's still not on his best shape. It's funny how fast things changing. 2 years ago Jokubaitis was seen as indisputable future starting guard for Lithuania, almost a saviour, and now he's clearly a back-up optiion for way better by all means Jakucionis. And even so Jokubaitis most likely will have to compete with Marciulionis for back up role at some point. I love it. I'm packing all three to the tournaments.

https://x.com/BigKnickEnergy_/status/1812249421205131694

[Straight forward]

Watch those tough finishes, that body control, that feel of space. That's how true dominant lead guard should look. Most explosive and meanest (attacking mode) guard since Sarunas Marciulionis. Book it:

https://x.com/IlliniMBB/status/1812231540820029547/video/1

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis getting there in terms of shape? He simply needs to play more. Already showed good things against PR. If there was Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Sabonis in shape, maybe we would be heading to Olympics now.

https://x.com/GIGANTESbasket/status/1813835325774459286

[Svajunas]

Are we just going to ignore the fact that Sabonis played with injury and still say that he was out of shape?

[Hepcat]

Wrong thread, but what was Sabonis' injury?

[Straight forward]

Are we just going to ignore the fact that Sabonis played with injury and still say that he was out of shape?

I hear you, dude. Absolutely he was. Both not in top shape and injured. But it doesn't make the outcome less disappointing.

But, dude, this U18 will be fun. Jakucionis is flawless with the ball. And this team will RUN. Contemporary ass basketball. If we beat the crap out of Europe with that basketball again, it will be so sweet:

https://x.com/imLuckyD/status/1814334027224035463

[Hepcat]

But, dude, this U18 will be fun. Jakucionis is flawless with the ball. And this team will RUN. Contemporary ass basketball. If we beat the crap out of Europe with that basketball again, it will be so sweet:

I don't care how they do it. "Just win baby, just win."

[Straight forward]

I don't care how they do it. "Just win baby, just win."

Dude, we already know you don't watch BB, aight.

[Straight forward]

Holly Shit Jakucionis. Each time he looks better and better. Drops 22pts on Spain and looks amazing. I even see some Petrovic in him. Damn, finally true generational guard. LTU basketball needed this piece as a dying man in the desert needed a sip of water. Great shiftness, sharp passes, quick gunner to kill. Completely top tier, lottery pick candidate. Literally, Lithuania never seen such piece since Sarunas Marciulionis. Different comibination of skill, toughness, leadership.

https://x.com/PDTScouting/status/1815204559339266162

Lithuania took down all teams in the tournament, but the game against Spain obviously was super competitive, just +4. It's not gonna be easy. Not only Jakucionis, but also Indrusaitis and others will have to give their best to snatch the title.

https://x.com/imLuckyD/status/1815135024578015393

[Straight forward]

Holly Shit Jakucionis. Each time he looks better and better. Drops 22pts on Spain and looks amazing. I even see some Petrovic in him. Damn, finally true generational guard. LTU basketball needed this piece as a dying man in the desert needed a sip of water. Great shiftness, sharp passes, quick gunner to kill. Completely top tier, lottery pick candidate. Literally, Lithuania never seen such piece since Sarunas Marciulionis. Different comibination of skill, toughness, leadership.

https://x.com/PDTScouting/status/1815204559339266162

Lithuania took down all teams in the tournament, but the game against Spain obviously was super competitive, just +4. It's not gonna be easy. Not only Jakucionis, but also Indrusaitis and others will have to give their best to snatch the title.

https://x.com/imLuckyD/status/1815135024578015393

If NCAA will slow down this amazing pace within Jakucionis is playing right now...Holly crap...I hope Illinois doesn't play turtle basketball cause it would be a big bummer. We need this pacy and dominant version of Jakucionis. He can complete take over in games. NCAA always a risk and that worries me. I would be more confident seeing Jakucionis balling for some random ACB team as a leader. If Illinois will give him some kind of off ball role, it will be huge bummer. But hope everything will be OK, he's too good.

And I'm a little worried how crappy role players look in that clip. They can't finish anything that Jakucionis creates Hope Purlys didn't screw with role players selection, he had tons of choices. Maybe just one game thing.

[Straight forward]

Jakucionis stock is going crazy right now. Even before this tournament in Spain, Ilinois reporters were projecting him to be the best player of the team, now that they seen how he looks against Spain it's the feeling that he reached even another level. People compare him with White Chocolate Jasion Williams, I can even see a bit of Petrovic in him (OK, with less shooting, but much more handles and passing), the way he gathers himself for a shot, and that body control and toughness, and how quick and precise his gunning routine. Most importantly he reached new level of explosiveness, his cross overs are lightening quick and he changes directions with force, it's not just agility, but quick dominant physicality which remind a bit of Marciulionis at times. And he just absorbs the space, like he can make certain seperation in basically any spot of the court, be it the tiny spot. His passing is reaching new level. his precision and decision making timing already at different level. He's literally becoming INTO the beast kind of player and one of the greatest 18yo ballers Europe ever seen. We are talking about Doncic, Rubio and such, I even doubt some Dragic looked that well as 18yo. To certain extent this version of Jakucionis is even more impressive than Topic that we witnessed recently. Topic has no perimeter shooting game of Jakucionis and Kasparas seems to be developing into even more dominant passer, more physical player and better defender. We can realistically talk about lottery, he's there, oh my goodness.

~ 20ppg, ~10as, ~6rbs per game is not out of question for Kasparas in this U18 tournament if he will be healthy.

https://x.com/rafazdiaz/status/1815291355339321630

[zalias]

he definitely looks great but i dont want to get excited this early because of how awful lithuanians have looked in ncaa lately

[Hepcat]

Dude, we already know you don't watch BB, aight.

Unlike you I care more about the outcome than whether the game action conforms to some set of arbitrary aesthetic standards that I've decided to embrace.

Holly Shit Jakucionis. Each time he looks better and better.... I even see some Petrovic in him. Damn, finally true generational guard. LTU basketball needed this piece as a dying man in the desert needed a sip of water. Great shiftness, sharp passes, quick gunner to kill. Completely top tier, lottery pick candidate. Literally, Lithuania never seen such piece since Sarunas Marciulionis. Different comibination of skill, toughness, leadership.

Oh groan. Now he's going to have to lead Lithuania to the Gold and be the MVP of the tournament just to live up to your words. But we all know you'll just heap praise on him anyway and put down the "role players" as well as the coach if it doesn't pan out that way.