Good Morning, Illini Nation: Post-combine mock draft

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Sign up for our daily basketball newsletter here Welcome to Good Morning, Illini Nation, your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey.

Hell offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwoods team and college basketball at large: The 2025 NBA Draft is exactly one month away, with 59 players most from the college ranks, some international set to hear their names called.

The first 30, of course, will have that moment on June 25 at Barclays Center.

Then next 29 have to wait a day for the second round.

Both Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley shouldn't have to wait.

Both former Illinois standouts are projected first-round picks.

Jakucionis has long been a lottery lock.

Riley's stock seems to be improving.

Where might they land? Here's how Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor sees it with intel following the NBA draft combine in Chicago: "The Reed Sheppard selection one year ago signaled that the Rockets were looking for a future shot creator that can someday take over for Fred VanVleet.

Taking Jakucionis would give them another guy in the developmental pipeline.

The Illinois freshman is a slick shot creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers, and jaw-dropping passes.

But hed follow up those highlights with turnover brain-farts that would derail the hype train.

So, much like Sheppard, he might need time to figure things out in the G League." "After taking (Duke's Kon Knueppel) with their lottery pick, the Jazz go with Riley here to add even more versatility to the roster.

Riley has dynamic driving ability and playmaking instincts that scream upside as a jumbo-sized, shot-creating wing.

His jumper is streaky, and his defense is unreliable since hes so lean physically and lacks fundamentals, but Utah can afford to be patient.".

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