Kasparas Jakučionis feels ready for the NBA draft — and excited for Illinois’ new wave of ‘Balkan Ballers’

Kasparas Jakučionis feels ready for the NBA draft — and excited for Illinois’ new wave of ‘Balkan Ballers’

On the second day of the NBA draft combine, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis was excited simply to be in an NBA jersey. OK, so technically it wasn’t a real NBA jersey. Draft prospects spend the week wearing boilerplate scrimmage pinnies emblazoned with the combine logo. But to Jakučionis, that was symbolic of the step he’s about to take toward a lifelong dream. “Everyone starts (dreaming) when they’re little,” he said Wednesday at Wintrust Are…

4 takeaways from Kasparas Jakučionis’ NBA Draft Combine media availability

With the NBA Draft Combine underway in Chicago this week, Illinois freshman guard Kasparas Jakučionis had his media availability Wednesday as a projected first round pick in next month’s draft. Here are four takeaways from what he had to say about the draft process and personal goals at the next level. Dream come true “If...