Kasparas Jakucionis

[UcanUwill]

Also, OT, but this week was announced that Mantas Juzėnas committed to Saint Marrys university, same one where Marčiulionis' son and Paulius Murauskas play. Mantas Juzėnas is probably our second most promising guard prospect who wasn't like leagues below Kasparas, so seeing how well Kasparas plays in NCAA, I am bit exited to see hoe Juzėnas does next year, just letting you know, he is another pretty tall and pretty strong SG/PG type of player.
That said, Mantas committed to Saint Marry university, but he said that he could still stay in Europe, tho I would not bet on that, hes coming.

[Jstock12]

I saw multiple people make this comparison, but I never really understood the Huerter comp for Jakucionis, though admittedly I haven't really followed Huerter much in college. Was he playmaking a lot for his college team?

Also, OT, but this week was announced that Mantas Juzėnas committed to Saint Marrys university, same one where Marčiulionis' son and Paulius Murauskas play. Mantas Juzėnas is probably our second most promising guard prospect who wasn't like leagues below Kasparas, so seeing how well Kasparas plays in NCAA, I am bit exited to see hoe Juzėnas does next year, just letting you know, he is another pretty tall and pretty strong SG/PG type of player.
That said, Mantas committed to Saint Marry university, but he said that he could still stay in Europe, tho I would not bet on that, hes coming.

Juzenas has a pretty nice shot, but I don't think he has KJ's playmaking chops or the vision. If anything Juzenas reminds me more of a smaller (SG/SF) version of Murauskas.

[UcanUwill]

I saw multiple people make this comparison, but I never really understood the Huerter comp for Jakucionis, though admittedly I haven't really followed Huerter much in college. Was he playmaking a lot for his college team?

Also, OT, but this week was announced that Mantas Juzėnas committed to Saint Marrys university, same one where Marčiulionis' son and Paulius Murauskas play. Mantas Juzėnas is probably our second most promising guard prospect who wasn't like leagues below Kasparas, so seeing how well Kasparas plays in NCAA, I am bit exited to see hoe Juzėnas does next year, just letting you know, he is another pretty tall and pretty strong SG/PG type of player.
That said, Mantas committed to Saint Marry university, but he said that he could still stay in Europe, tho I would not bet on that, hes coming.

Juzenas has a pretty nice shot, but I don't think he has KJ's playmaking chops or the vision. If anything Juzenas reminds me more of a smaller (SG/SF) version of Murauskas.

I agree Huerter comp makes little sense, apart they look a like, white to white comp. That one draft site compared him to Spencer Dinwiddie. I think that comp makes sense. Locked on says he is kinda like college Luka, and I mean there are similarities, but any time you compare 4 star prospect to all time great, its a bit silly. In my thread, poster said he is like Giddey with shot, which as Lithuanian, Giddey with shot I would take any day, I think you would agree. I haven't seen enough of Kasparas to be any kind of expert, but he reminds me of players like Micic, Derrick White, Lonzo, Diamantidis. If he ends up like any of these, that would be pretty good, but a lot of people now see him as top 10 pick, so expectations of others is probably even higher than that.

I agree that Juzėnas is not a go to playmaker, but he has some creative skills. He has similar thing Martynas Varnas had, where he really knows how to set his feet before shooting, so most shots he takes appear to be good shots. But just like with Varnas, in higher levels with faster defenders it could turn into a problem, because shooting form is not very fast. But that is something most do not even think about, ability to set your feet before taking a shot, and he really has it, its a skill. We had Mantas Kalnietis, who was very weird player, because he did so many things well but some basic fundamentals were missing, like the ability to set his feet, it really looked like every off the dribble shot he ever took was off balance... Going back to Juzėnas, thick legs, pretty developed body, he can shoot and he even likes body some other guards in the paint, he is interesting player and very young still so there is something there. That Lithuanian class is anomaly in a sense top guys are guards or perimeter players, we basically still on life support relevancy in Basketball in past 10 years because we have tall people, our guard pool has been in critical condition.

[Jstock12]

I saw multiple people make this comparison, but I never really understood the Huerter comp for Jakucionis, though admittedly I haven't really followed Huerter much in college. Was he playmaking a lot for his college team?

Also, OT, but this week was announced that Mantas Juzėnas committed to Saint Marrys university, same one where Marčiulionis' son and Paulius Murauskas play. Mantas Juzėnas is probably our second most promising guard prospect who wasn't like leagues below Kasparas, so seeing how well Kasparas plays in NCAA, I am bit exited to see hoe Juzėnas does next year, just letting you know, he is another pretty tall and pretty strong SG/PG type of player.
That said, Mantas committed to Saint Marry university, but he said that he could still stay in Europe, tho I would not bet on that, hes coming.

Juzenas has a pretty nice shot, but I don't think he has KJ's playmaking chops or the vision. If anything Juzenas reminds me more of a smaller (SG/SF) version of Murauskas.

I agree Huerter comp makes little sense, apart they look a like, white to white comp. That one draft site compared him to Spencer Dinwiddie. I think that comp makes sense. Locked on says he is kinda like college Luka, and I mean there are similarities, but any time you compare 4 star prospect to all time great, its a bit silly. In my thread, poster said he is like Giddey with shot, which as Lithuanian, Giddey with shot I would take any day, I think you would agree. I haven't seen enough of Kasparas to be any kind of expert, but he reminds me of players like Micic, Derrick White, Lonzo, Diamantidis. If he ends up like any of these, that would be pretty good, but a lot of people now see him as top 10 pick, so expectations of others is probably even higher than that.

I agree that Juzėnas is not a go to playmaker, but he has some creative skills. He has similar thing Martynas Varnas had, where he really knows how to set his feet before shooting, so most shots he takes appear to be good shots. But just like with Varnas, in higher levels with faster defenders it could turn into a problem, because shooting form is not very fast. But that is something most do not even thing about, ability to set your feet before taking a shot, and he really has it, its a skill. We had Mantas Kalnietis, who was very weird player, because he did so many things well but some basic fundamentals were missing, like the ability to set his feet, it really looked like every off the dribble shot he ever took was off balance... Going back to Juzėnas, thick legs, pretty developed body, he can shoot and he even likes body some other guards in the paint, he is interesting player and very young still so there is something there. That Lithuanian class is anomaly in a sense top guys are guards or perimeter players, we basically still on life support in Basketball in past 10 years because we have tall people, our guard pool has been in critical condition.

Dinwiddie with elite court vision is an interesting prospect. And if that 3PT% holds... Although I guess he'll come down to Earth soon. No matter what happens at the NBA level, the Lithuanian national team is set with the backcourt of JokuJaku.

As for Saint Mary's, I wish they also recruited Dovydas Buika to replace Marciulionis next year. Would be so much fun to watch Buika/Juzenas/Shaw/Murauskas together.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I think he's this year's Reed Sheppard. Heck of a college player and for sure could have a role in the NBA but almost nothing of what you see will transfer as far as being a lead guard. He can't defend. And his athletic limitations will hinder his offense. I don't see him being able to be an above average starting guard in the NBA. Off the bench or low level starter? Sure. He's like Pod or Nembhard.

[UcanUwill]

I think he's this year's Reed Sheppard. Heck of a college player and for sure could have a role in the NBA but almost nothing of what you see will transfer as far as being a lead guard. He can't defend. And his athletic limitations will hinder his offense. I don't see him being able to be an above average starting guard in the NBA. Off the bench or low level starter? Sure. He's like Pod or Nembhard.

That is what I fear, tho I wouldn't bring Reed here, I have faith Reed will in fact be very good in the NBA, but I understand evidence does not favor me here, at least so far it doesn't. Reed has that elite skill even at NBA level, shooting. Not sure what Kasparas has what will be elite in the NBA. Maybe Jaku is like Kolek on the Knicks, Kolek looked like savant in summer league, pretty astonishing passing and court vision ability, but will he really work in the NBA? Looks like a guy who would be big star in Europe, but probably caps at McConell, Spencer Dinwiddie in the NBA.

[The-Power]

Not sure what Kasparas has what will be elite in the NBA.

I think the equation with him is fairly straightforward. If you believe his shooting and ability to draw fouls will translate then he's probably a top 5 pick. The more you chip away at that, the less likely he's going to make a big difference in the NBA. So the idea is pretty clear but naturally this does not take away the uncertainty because how those two skills translate is anybody's guess.

There's a lot of room for optimism, though. FTr will go down but he'll likely still draw a bunch of fouls at the NBA level because that measure translates on average reasonably well. And the shooting indicators look really good right now, too. High volume, great FT%, repeatable release, and he hits his fair share of 3s that aren't considered easy. Does anyone have access to his midrange numbers?

[CptCrunch]

This line of using a rookie PG getting no burn on a near 0.700 team to compare to a SF point forward is so weird.

[Jstock12]

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[UcanUwill]

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Announcers pronounces his name 100% accurately, which rarely happens with our funky names. Props to them.

[Catchall]

Kasparas has the upside of a prospect like Lamelo Ball, without the flakey-ass downside of Lamelo Ball.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I think he's this year's Reed Sheppard. Heck of a college player and for sure could have a role in the NBA but almost nothing of what you see will transfer as far as being a lead guard. He can't defend. And his athletic limitations will hinder his offense. I don't see him being able to be an above average starting guard in the NBA. Off the bench or low level starter? Sure. He's like Pod or Nembhard.

That is what I fear, tho I wouldn't bring Reed here, I have faith Reed will in fact be very good in the NBA, but I understand evidence does not favor me here, at least so far it doesn't. Reed has that elite skill even at NBA level, shooting. Not sure what Kasparas has what will be elite in the NBA. Maybe Jaku is like Kolek on the Knicks, Kolek looked like savant in summer league, pretty astonishing passing and court vision ability, but will he really work in the NBA? Looks like a guy who would be big star in Europe, but probably caps at McConell, Spencer Dinwiddie in the NBA.

if you go through the Reed threads you'll see me bringing up concerns about whether the shooting would translate because he would no longer be shooting over even smaller guards and it'd be at an NBA distance with NBA athletes contesting. So far that looks to be valid as he's not proven he has that elite skill tbh. He's shooting just 28% on nearly 2.5 attempts per game. I think this would improve with more playing time as he got into a rhythm but it's at least fair to question how good he could be without the otherworldly shooting numbers he had in college. Him going #3 was absurd. And all the "experts" and their parrots had him that high, with some even suggesting he could be #1. The 2024 class really broke these people.

[UcanUwill]

I think he's this year's Reed Sheppard. Heck of a college player and for sure could have a role in the NBA but almost nothing of what you see will transfer as far as being a lead guard. He can't defend. And his athletic limitations will hinder his offense. I don't see him being able to be an above average starting guard in the NBA. Off the bench or low level starter? Sure. He's like Pod or Nembhard.

That is what I fear, tho I wouldn't bring Reed here, I have faith Reed will in fact be very good in the NBA, but I understand evidence does not favor me here, at least so far it doesn't. Reed has that elite skill even at NBA level, shooting. Not sure what Kasparas has what will be elite in the NBA. Maybe Jaku is like Kolek on the Knicks, Kolek looked like savant in summer league, pretty astonishing passing and court vision ability, but will he really work in the NBA? Looks like a guy who would be big star in Europe, but probably caps at McConell, Spencer Dinwiddie in the NBA.

if you go through the Reed threads you'll see me bringing up concerns about whether the shooting would translate because he would no longer be shooting over even smaller guards and it'd be at an NBA distance with NBA athletes contesting. So far that looks to be valid as he's not proven he has that elite skill tbh. He's shooting just 28% on nearly 2.5 attempts per game. I think this would improve with more playing time as he got into a rhythm but it's at least fair to question how good he could be without the otherworldly shooting numbers he had in college. Him going #3 was absurd. And all the "experts" and their parrots had him that high, with some even suggesting he could be #1. The 2024 class really broke these people.

His form appears to be pretty fast, so I doubt shooting over NBA defenders will be the problem for him, sample size is small and often shooting takes time to translate for some reason. Very often happens with Euros at least, who would be great shooters in Europe, but then first season in the NBA, they would shoot like complete a**. Thinking of guys like Calderon etc.

Also, Reed appears to be so talented in this regard, these guys usually have talent to improve their form even further, make it quicker, change release point. I have faith in his shooting, just seems unbelievable that he wouldn't end up at least a great shooting specialist, and if he can be true point, I think it will be boom or bust thing for him. He is not great at being a point, he is basically 6'2 shooting guard, and that will cap him as maybe just a back up.

[Jstock12]

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[The-Power]

I think he's the #3 for me right now. He just keeps producing on offense in a variety of ways even when teams are focused on stopping him. He's a good (though not great) playmaker and he might well be the most versatile scorer among the top prospects.

[Chi town]

I think he's the #3 for me right now. He just keeps producing on offense in a variety of ways even when teams are focused on stopping him. He's a good (though not great) playmaker and he might well be the most versatile scorer among the top prospects.

That’s where I have him.

He’s clutch.

Kid is a winner.

[UcanUwill]

I think he's the #3 for me right now. He just keeps producing on offense in a variety of ways even when teams are focused on stopping him. He's a good (though not great) playmaker and he might well be the most versatile scorer among the top prospects.

That’s where I have him.

He’s clutch.

Kid is a winner.

Where do you want him to go? I think teams that need true franchise player and are building almost from scratch, I imagine they are aiming a bit higher than what Kasparas could provide. But let say if New Orleans salvage what they have and come back from this lost season, maybe Kasparas in New Orleans would fit well?

I want him in Toronto, cause I used to be Raptors fan, so that would reignite that connection I had, but Raptors fans can be incredibly brutal when guy doesn't meat their expectations.

[Jstock12]

I think he's the #3 for me right now. He just keeps producing on offense in a variety of ways even when teams are focused on stopping him. He's a good (though not great) playmaker and he might well be the most versatile scorer among the top prospects.

That’s where I have him.

He’s clutch.

Kid is a winner.

Where do you want him to go? I think teams that need true franchise player and are building almost from scratch, I imagine they are aiming a bit higher than what Kasparas could provide. But let say if New Orleans salvage what they have and come back from this lost season, maybe Kasparas in New Orleans would fit well?

I want him in Toronto, cause I used to be Raptors fan, so that would reignite that connection I had, but Raptors fans can be incredibly brutal when guy doesn't meat their expectations.

Ideally he goes somewhere where he's not expected to become the #1 option. Some team that already has their franchise cornerstone and needs good complimentary pieces... Maybe he can be a Ginobili to Wemby's Duncan. Although that would require for him to drop outside the lottery, or for the Spurs to trade up.

[UcanUwill]

That’s where I have him.

He’s clutch.

Kid is a winner.

Where do you want him to go? I think teams that need true franchise player and are building almost from scratch, I imagine they are aiming a bit higher than what Kasparas could provide. But let say if New Orleans salvage what they have and come back from this lost season, maybe Kasparas in New Orleans would fit well?

I want him in Toronto, cause I used to be Raptors fan, so that would reignite that connection I had, but Raptors fans can be incredibly brutal when guy doesn't meat their expectations.

Ideally he goes somewhere where he's not expected to become the #1 option. Some team that already has their franchise cornerstone and needs good complimentary pieces... Maybe he can be a Ginobili to Wemby's Duncan.

In recent Locked on podcast, they discussed Kasparas in great detail, and the host pondered that Spurs would be best fit. Honestly, Spurs would be best fit for a lot of guys, but I do not see them picking in the top 12, I still hope they might still make the play offs, we will see. Kasparas' stock seemed to skyrocket, before this season it felt like we hoped he would be first rounder, now most people have him top 7. Not sure if that will be the case, but I think we need to start accepting reality where he goes to one of those trash teams.

[The-Power]

I think teams that need true franchise player and are building almost from scratch, I imagine they are aiming a bit higher than what Kasparas could provide.

Honestly, which prospects truly have a higher (somewhat realistically attainable) ceiling than him? Besides Flagg and Harper, I'm not sure any of them is a clear step ahead in that regard. A couple are arguable but they tend to come with higher risks, too, IMO.