Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis receives NBA Green room invite

The 2025 NBA draft will be on June 25th, 2025, at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York. As it stands right now, two Illinois basketball players will hear their names called at some point in the first round. Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley are no doubt NBA draft selections; however, both prospects have a variety of possible landing spots. Riley is seen in some mock drafts as early as the teens and as late as the mid-20s.

On the other hand, Kasparas Jakucionis seems to be a sure-fire lottery pick. It is hard to find a mock draft in which Jakucionis is picked after the 14th overall pick. With that being said, Jakucionis is one of thirteen draft prospects who have been invited to the prestigious Green Room.

The publicity for Illinois basketball

This is a great opportunity for Illinois basketball to get some national attention. Usually, the Green room consists of the top international prospects and some of the most notable prospects from the likes of Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina. With Jakucionis in the Green room, look for head coach Brad Underwood and other staff members to get some national TV time on the night of the 25th.

Jakucionis looks to be the first lottery pick out of the University of Illinois since 2012. Jakucionis and Will Riley will become the fourth Illinois basketball products to enter the NBA draft. The other two former Illini are Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr.

Update: Per his mother, Tracy, Will Riley has also received a Green room invite (6/16/2025)

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