ESPN Forecast: Illinois’ Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis to Reunite in NBA with San Antonio Spurs
Could Illinois’ Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis be teammates once again in the NBA?
For Illini fans, there’s still a chance. While both Riley and Jakucionis are on track for the 2025 NBA Draft, with the draft lottery looming on Monday, analysts are starting to make predictions on where these top prospects might land based on team needs and draft positioning.
In ESPN’s latest draft projections by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, things took an interesting turn. Riley, projected to be drafted in the late teens to early 20s, is now being predicted to go 14th overall in the first round. What caught the eye of many, especially Illinois supporters, is that both Riley (No. 14) and Jakucionis (No. 8) are predicted to be selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
“Jakucionis brings the kind of offensive creativity, intangibles, and international experience that has always attracted the Spurs,” Woo wrote, highlighting the 18-year-old, 6-foot-6 Lithuanian guard.
Went to watch Illinois' Will Riley working out in Los Angeles. The Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year has a big week coming at the NBA Combine in Chicago. The 19-year-old Canadian is building his frame while maintaining his guard skills at 6'8. pic.twitter.com/TfuhkcBxhl
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 6, 2025
Givony added that the Spurs, aiming to add shooting strength both from the perimeter and in the frontcourt, could be interested in Jakucionis, Riley, and a few other prospects with their two first-round picks at No. 8 and 14.
Of course, these predictions depend on the Spurs actually landing those picks and not trading them away. With so many variables at play, there’s a lot of uncertainty about whether the draft lottery will unfold as projected.
Still, it would be intriguing to see Jakucionis and Riley continue their development together, especially in San Antonio, which is known for its strong player development system. Jakucionis, in particular, seems like the type of player the Spurs typically target. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how the lottery plays out this Monday.
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