Report: Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis commits to Illini

Illinois returned to Europe to fill its biggest remaining offseason need. Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis has committed to Illinois, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard, who also had interest from Wake Forest and BYU, plays for FC Barcelona in Spain and recently was one of the top standouts at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Berlin (Germany) last week.

• Jakucionis earned ANGT all-tournament honors after averaging 17.9 points, 9.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals. He had 17 assists in win over ALBA Berline, had 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a win over Milano and had 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a loss to PFYM INSEP.
• In 19 games for Barca 2 this past season, Jakucionis averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals and shot 37.7% from three and 88.6% from the free throw line.
• In seven games in the Spain U19 League, Jakucionis averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 40.% from three and 86.4% from the free throw line.

Why it matters: Jakucionis is the second high-profile addition form Europe this offseason. Croatian big man Tomislav Ivisic, 21, signed with Illinois earlier this spring. Illini has gradually made inroads overseas and reeled in two likely starters from across the Atlantic this offseason. Programs like Gonzaga, Arizona and Michigan have all benefited greatly from recruiting Europe. Illinois has benefited from recruiting internationally under Brad Underwood, adding players like Kofi Cockburn (Jamaica), Andrés Feliz (Dominican Republic) and Giorgi Bezhanishvili (Republic of Georgia).

How he fits: Jakucionis gives Illinois another needed playmaker in the backcourt. Jakucionis brings positional size at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, and he showed this past week that he can be a primary playmaker in pick and rolls and in transition. He dished 17 assists in a game this week but also is a gifted scorer who can finish at the rim and hit threes at a good rate). While he certainly will have a transition to America and the Big Ten, he has played against high-level competition in Europe and has a mature body and mature skill set. He should give Illinois another skilled playmaker to pair with and complement Arizona transfer Kylan Boswell, and the Lithuanian furthers the idea that Brad Underwood again could have a potentially potent offense.