Among the various storylines in the 2025 NBA Draft included both Duke and Rutgers combining to have half of the top-10 picks taken. However, there was another college basketball team that presented multiple draft selections of their own in the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley were the top leading scorers for Illinois, combining to produce 27.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 6.9 apg this past season. The freshmen duo were expected to be taken somewhere in thef first round of the NBA Draft, with Jakucionis having potential lottery hopes.
In the end, it took until the 20s for them to each be selected, going back-to-back. Here’s a look at where they each ended up.
Kasparas Jakucionis - No. 20 (Miami Heat)
After trading Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, the Heat are retooling around big man Bam Adebayo and guard Tyler Herro, who has become their go-to option on offense. He’s not an ideal point guard, so them looking for a ball-handler in the first round makes sense. Jakucionis would be competing with veteran Terry Rozier and Davion Mitchell for minutes at the 1 and if he’s good enough, the former Illinois lead playmaker could be the next rookie to carve out a solid role at Miami.
Will Riley - No. 21 (Washington Wizards)
The 6’8 small forward has elite scoring potential and a high ceiling overall. Utah traded this pick to the Wizards, who are going completely young going forward. Khris Middleton has one year left on his deal, and Riley could be an upgrade over Corey Kispert on the wings, too. With Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington on board the team taking former Texas Longhorns star Tre Johnson at No. 6 in this draft, the hope is that Riley will be part of the future core for Washington.