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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation”, your every day information dose of the basketball of the Ilini Beat Author School and AP Prime 25, Scott Richey. He’ll present info each morning in Brad Underwood’s workforce and faculty basketball basically:
The 2025 NBA venture is lower than two weeks away. Solely 12 days really with the primary spherical set for June 25 at Barclays Heart in Brooklyn, NY
And that is the spherical that issues. At the least for the previous guards in Illinois, Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley. Each ought to hear their names named on the primary night. Jakucionis might be among the many first 14 lottery decisions. Riley can so tall or someplace within the 20s.
However each within the first spherical. It appears to be the most definitely state of affairs lower than two weeks. As at all times, there are loads of hypothesis and projection earlier than the venture. Listed here are among the newest …
A brand new mockery venture from Yahoo! Kevin O’Connor of Sport presents Jakucionis that goes 10th at Houston missiles.
“Houston’s system appears to have sources of offense from the 5 gamers on the ground, so Jakučionis may match as a trick artistic with a artistic era and a ability of fearless scoring,” O’Connor wrote.
However will the missiles be in that place to return the venture day?
Will Johnson be a rocket? What sort of roles will Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith have subsequent season? What are the priorities in Houston?
All this and plenty of extra: https://t.co/ixlg7no02H
– Danielle Learner (@danielle_lerner) June 12, 2025
O’Connor additionally has Riley to go to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder along with his 24th alternative. Given the make-up of the OKC checklist and their present operating at a NBA title, this might not imply a direct method to the sport time for the previous Illini.
The drawback of going later within the first spherical to a very good workforce. Title the Paradox Terrence Shannon Jr.
“With a busy workforce that might win the NBA last, Riley can spend a while in Gul G and can develop till she is able to shine,” O’Connor wrote.
ESPN Jeremy Woo additionally supplied comparisons of excessive and low gamers for the 14 lottery decisions designed earlier this week. Jakucionis composite? Austin Reaves on the excessive finish and Delon Wright on the low finish.
Additionally, this week, the ESPN workforce of Jonathon Givony and Woo went forwards and backwards on the 30 elections within the first spherical of debate and select the worth. The projections of Givony de Want had Jakucionis at quantity 10 at rockets and Riley at quantity 26 to Brooklyn Nets, whereas Woo’s projections primarily based on Decide had Jakucionis at quantity 11 at Portland Path Blazers and Riley simply outdoors the quantity 16 to the Magia Orlando.
“I’m personally within the lengthy -term brace of Riley and I’d wager on him right here in adolescence, as wings along with his sort of dimension, sensation and potential filming aren’t at all times straightforward to search out outdoors the lottery,” Woo wrote.