Lithuanian Point Guards

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Here's some highs from the game against Butler. KJ with strong drive and long pass, he out there running at the point. He seems to be the main piece of all offense because of various reasons:

Kasparas Jakucionis is proving to be a true floor general, orchestrating the offense and creating opportunities for his teammates.

Jakucionis is such a dynamic creator that even the threat of his presence can generate offense. When defenses shade over to him, he can swing the ball to the weak side, where a teammate can attack a recovering defender off the dribble. This concept was something the Chicago Bulls used effectively with Ayo Dosunmu last season. The Bulls would start an action, and if the defense overloaded the strong side, Dosunmu would be waiting to attack the weak side.

If Jakucionis isn’t such a threat, the defense never overloads, and Tre White’s defender would have been in a better position, potentially preventing this play from developing.

https://hoopinformatics.substack.com/p/glimpses-from-the-closed-scrimmage

[zalias]

trinchieri mentioned he wants to develop giedraitis as a point guard, its a very interesting idea. giedraitis is taking a huge step forward every sinlge year:

2022/23: 9mpg, 1.6ppg, 0.6apg, 0.6stl, 36% fg

2023/24: 16.6mpg, 4.8ppg, 1apg, 1.1stl, 39% fg

2024/25: 28mpg, 10.3ppg, 0.7apg, 1.3stl, 63% fg (only 3 games)

and overall since trinchieri put him into his rotation:

13 games, 24.5mpg, 7.1ppg, 1.15apg, 1.6stl


if he continues this trajectory could end up being the current best point guard in lithuania in no time, passing jokubatis, who has stagnated for the past 4 years, age is also not a factor because they are both from the 2000 generation. happy for giedraitis but overall this is a very sad situation for lithuanian basketball. im still a little sceptical about giedraitis as a point guard because of his lack of playmaking skills and overall creativity thats required for a good point guard, giedraitis is a very textbook, stay in his own lane type of player but he has clearly improved his ball handling skills and that low assist number is mostly because zalgiris has not been very good offensively so far so it should get higher as they play more games.

[Straight forward]

trinchieri mentioned he wants to develop giedraitis as a point guard, its a very interesting idea. giedraitis is taking a huge step forward every sinlge year:

2022/23: 9mpg, 1.6ppg, 0.6apg, 0.6stl, 36% fg

2023/24: 16.6mpg, 4.8ppg, 1apg, 1.1stl, 39% fg

2024/25: 28mpg, 10.3ppg, 0.7apg, 1.3stl, 63% fg (only 3 games)

and overall since trinchieri put him into his rotation:

13 games, 24.5mpg, 7.1ppg, 1.15apg, 1.6stl


if he continues this trajectory could end up being the current best point guard in lithuania in no time, passing jokubatis, who has stagnated for the past 4 years, age is also not a factor because they are both from the 2000 generation. happy for giedraitis but overall this is a very sad situation for lithuanian basketball. im still a little sceptical about giedraitis as a point guard because of his lack of playmaking skills and overall creativity thats required for a good point guard, giedraitis is a very textbook, stay in his own lane type of player but he has clearly improved his ball handling skills and that low assist number is mostly because zalgiris has not been very good offensively so far so it should get higher as they play more games.

I don't get it what this is all about.

Why Giedraitis has to become PG instead of being himself - meaning combo who bites the shit of you defensively and doesn't make shit offensively (but being passive piece essentially)?

I cringed when Trinch said he will make LTU BB a favor of making Giedraitis a PG. Lithuania has the deepest PG section in Europe for upcoming 15 years - KJ, Marciulionis, Jokubaitis. Literally no-one has deeper PG section. There's zero chance for Giedraitis to become best PG. All three mentioned guys already are WAY better point guards and it's not even close. So I don't get what are you talking about.

If Trinch will make Giedraitis more confident and versatile combo, it's surely a benefit, but D. Giedraitis will never be a pure point guard.

[zalias]

jokubaitis cant even stay on the court because of his horrific defense, but sure he's much better. marciuloinis will never be a high level player, calathes if calathes was a much worse playmaker is his best comparison

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jokubaitis cant even stay on the court because of his horrific defense, but sure he's much better. marciuloinis will never be a high level player

KJ's game reading and creativity is at another level, world class level. Marciulionis is more dominant facilitator than Jokubaitis and more of pass first PG than Jokubaitis. But Jokubaitis is still elite and can dish the ball effectively, Giedraitis is not even relatively close. That's it. IDK how you came up with idea that he can become best or that LTU has issues with PGs. We never were in better situation and never been relatively close to current situation.

[zalias]

i was talking currently not in 2 or 3 years. i agree that point guard is probably not the most ideal position for giedraitis and his playstyle but if he ends up being a full time point guard currently there is no competion for him. if he can keep playing elite defense and score about 10 points per game in euroleague is better than any other point guard can offer CURRENTLY. jokubaitis went to maccabi for a bigger role and is now playing 14mpg per game

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i was talking currently not in 2 or 3 years

Jokubaitis and Marciulionis are DEFINITITELY better now, while Jakucionis maybe would turn the ball over more, but he at the same time would be 5 times more dominant creator than current Giedraitis The only question is whenever Trinchieri would be ready to tolerate KJ's wildness. If he would unleash Jakucionis today in EL he would be way more dominant offensively than Giedraitis (in a good night he can nail 5-7 step back threes while opponents not having any chance to reach it), but also would make more turnovers and wouldn't play nearly close good D.

You overrate Giedraitis passing ability or offensive aggressiveness a lot. Giedraitis with time will be pretty nice scorer, but essentially he's not DOMINANT FACILITATOR and will never be. He doesn't have that in him.

[zalias]

and i think you overrate marciulionis and jokubaitis a lot. one has 0 touch for the ball and the other has defense of a 12 year old in a wheelchair. ive been hearing about "jokubaitis breakthrough season is coming anytime now" for about 4 years now and whats funny is his role has only kept shrinking since then. the only thing that has changed about jokubaitis since zalgiris schiller days is 1 broken tv in puerto rico

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and i think you overrate marciulionis and jokubaitis a lot. one has 0 touch for the ball and the other has defense of a 12 year old in a wheelchair. ive been hearing about "jokubaitis breakthrough season is coming anytime now" for about 4 years now and whats funny is his role has only kept shrinking since then. the only thing that has changed about jokubaitis since zalgiris schiller days is 1 broken tv in puerto rico

Not even close, dude. You can trust my BB eye, and basketball intuition. Marciulionis passing is legit, he rarely turns the ball over. He will be one of the most fun ball movers in EL. Jokubaitis is good, just his attitude a bit fucked up, but don't have any illusions, he'll have very wealthy EL career, hell even now his career is longer than many guys. He just needs to get his shit together and move to another level and he will essentially, it's just a transition.

Jokubaitis was our best players against PR. And best player in WC 2023. He was running the team.

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Probably the final nail to the Kaspa hype's coffin before the season starts. ESPN has KJ as No.1 international fresh man in NCAA. Higher than Egor Demin who long time was treated as higher upside prospect, but Kaspa exploded all that as I expected. Well, now we will just have to wait and see how KJ will do. Most hyped and top rated Lithuanian guard prospect ever. Intriguing situation, hope he's not caring much about and don't read all these projections. The worst thing would be if he would lose his mind and cool because of that.

Interesting that ESPN landed Lelevicius at 10. Probably spot on. Again, it's an amazing amount of LTU talent in NCAA this season. A lot of history is rewritten at the moment.

1. Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois Fighting Illini

Scouting report: Jakucionis, 18, has an outstanding combination of size, shooting, pick-and-roll playmaking, toughness and feel for the game as a 6-foot-6 point guard. He was a dominant player at the club level for Barcelona's junior program and the Lithuanian national team, putting up gaudy numbers everywhere he's played and logging minutes in the Euroleague and ACB -- a rarity at his age. His aggressiveness, maturity and physicality have him ranked as the No. 15 prospect in ESPN's 2025 draft projections. -- Jonathan Givony

How he fits: Jakucionis should start and have a sizable offensive role immediately for coach Brad Underwood and the Illini. A big part of Illinois' offense last season was getting Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask into advantageous matchups and then attacking defenses. Expect Jakucionis to step into one of those roles this season. He can be the team's primary playmaker or he could play off the ball with Kylan Boswell running the offense. Either way, he'll have the ball in his hands a ton from Day 1. -- Jeff Borzello

10. Liutauras Lelevicius, SG, Oregon State Beavers

Scouting report: The 21-year-old started games in the EuroCup and Lithuanian first division last season but played a far bigger role for the national team as a point guard at the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship -- despite standing 6-8. He has an excellent feel for the game, can make 3s in a variety of ways and boasts a wealth of experience that should help him hit the ground running from Day 1. -- Givony

How he fits: Oregon State is 27-68 over the past three seasons and lost its two best players during the summer. In other words, there are plenty of minutes to go around. Lelevicious is another player yet to be cleared by the NCAA, but he could be the perfect fit for coach Wayne Tinkle's team. There's solid depth down low and SIUE transfer Damarco Minor can score on the perimeter, but Lelevicius should push for minutes on the wing immediately. His playmaking will be an asset in the WCC. -- Borzell

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...comers-2024-25

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Discussion on Jakucionis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMSTb07hI0&ab_channel=SleepersMedia

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Kaspa's head coach is really charismatic and preaching right things. I think KJ is in good hands for a season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY_6oG7tny0&ab_channel=FightingIlliniAthletics

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I went through KJ's highlights from scrimmages and I see already more burst in his feet, he's more physical and more explosive off his feet. That's the key for him to reach true star's level. If he has enough explosiveness in his feet and can slash with FORCE he can be a star globally. He has everything else and now witnessing he's becoming even more explosive on his feet makes me very optimistic. His passing surreal, his IQ top notch, amazing feeling for the game, but if he also has explosiveness - that's it, he has everything. From what I see KJ is ready to live up the hype. Sometimes the shot won't fall, but he can do so many things on the court.

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Hugo Gonzalez with some real impact to Real Madrid early in the season. That's the guy who got schooled by Jakucionis all season long. It only shows where KJ could stand as a PRO at the moment. He was tremendous with limited minutes for Barca anyway as 16-17yo showing boldness and fearlessness instantly. He could seriously provide things for Barca this season. Specially knowing how bleak Nunez looks so far for them.

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Ok, after all crazy KJ's hype train, there's a guy who thinks KJ is still highly underrated ATM I'm not sure about it, but dude's have KJ at 4 instead of ESPN's 15 Tomorrow first exhibition and we'll see what KJ has to offer, how he will run the game. BTW, it seems that in the game against Butler (closed scrimmages), KJ dished something like 7-8 assists, the offense was run through him, but his shot wasn't particularly dropping in that game. That's what I heard from podcasts and people who watched it.

The 2025 class has rightfully been lauded as one of the strongest groups in recent memory. Names like Cooper Flagg, Nolan Traore, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will headline, but plenty of sleepers will fly unnoticed and be underrated

Let’s discuss five prospects I deem underrated at this point in the draft cycle, using the recent ESPN big board as a rough composite to reference. Kasparas Jakucionis: 6’5, PG, Illinois


ESPN rank: 15

My rank: 4

As one of the draft class’s most dynamic offensive players, Jakucionis projects as a possible lead initiator at the NBA level. He’s an excellent off-dribble shooter, canning 35% of his five off-dribble threes per game in international youth competition.

Jakucionis pairs that shooting with elite playmaking, especially out of the pick-and-roll. He tossed 17 assists in one ANGT game earlier this year, dicing defenses with his vision, skill and anticipation. He’s not the quickest guard, but Jakucionis has enough juice to work into the paint as a driver.

Prospects with high-level pull-up shotmaking and passing often develop into stars. Jakucionis could be another example of this with the ceiling to thrive as a lead initiator and an off-ball shotmaker. He’s highly underrated at this stage.

https://www.sportscasting.com/news/nba-draft-2025-five-underrated-prospects-college-basketball/