Entering the 2024-25 campaign, the Illinois basketball program had multiple projected first-round picks in the NBA Draft.

Brad Underwood did a great job landing impressive talent in the offseason. The Illini went from an Elite 8 to having just two players returning in the blink of an eye. Underwood went to work and was able to put together quite the roster for this season.

Illinois had two players projected to go in the first round before the season began. Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis were both in the top 20. Since then, Riley is still trying to get things figured out, but Jakucionis has reached heights that not many thought were possible.

The Illini just logged its 11th game of the season, and the superstar freshman is averaging 16.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Those impressive numbers have Jakucionis not only looking like one of the best players in the country, but he is now skyrocketing up the mock draft boards.

In one of the latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft projections, CBS Sports has the Washington Wizards taking Cooper Flagg, the obvious No. 1 pick. You don’t have to drop too far down to find Jakucionis, though. He is currently projected to go No. 5 overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Kasparas Jakucionis could be in rare NBA Draft air if the Illinois basketball star gets picked that high

It is exciting to see not only an Illinois player projected to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft but also someone who could be selected in the top five.

If Jakucionis does go in the first round, he would be the first Illinois player selected in the first round since…Terrence Shannon Jr. last year.

Since 1990, there have only been two Illinois players picked in the top 10 of an NBA Draft. Kendall Gill was selected No. 5 overall in 1990 by the Charlotte Hornets, and Deron Williams went No. 3 overall to the Utah Jazz in 2005.

Could Jakucionis sneak into the top three? I think there is potential. If he keeps putting up impressive numbers and gets a little more efficient with the basketball, who knows how high he can climb?