2. Kasparas Jakucionis could hold his own in the NBA right now
There isn’t a game that goes by where I don’t think to myself that Kasparas Jakucionis is a great player. This kid is arguably one of the best Illinois basketball players I have ever seen.
Jakucionis had another great game on Thursday night. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, and one steal against Oregon. Those are incredible numbers, and honestly, it was kind of a quiet night.
Do you realize how good of a season Jakucionis is putting together? In the 13 games he has played this season, he has hit double-digit points in all but two games. Those two contests were a weird anomaly of a game against Oakland and a blowout win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
The impressive play by Jakucionis goes beyond his scoring numbers. He is the most complete player I have seen suit up for the Orange and Blue in decades.
Jakucionis’ step-back three-point shot is incredible. He can create his own shot whenever he wants. He also creates for others. Jakucionis has great court vision, and this allows him to fit the ball into tight windows.
There is an understanding of the game and a leadership quality with Jakucionis that is way beyond his years too. It is like he is a senior on the team, but in reality, this kid is barely out of high school age.
With the way Jakucionis plays and the natural ability he has for the game, I honestly feel like you can drop him in the NBA today and not only would he be on a roster, but I think he could hold his own. It wouldn’t shock me if he walked into an NBA franchise and was a contributor from day one.