Brad Underwood Richmond Family Endowed Men’s Head Basketball Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Brad Underwood Richmond Family Endowed Men’s Head Basketball Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis has been named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Midseason Team, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Jakucionis is having a notable first season with the Fighting Illini, averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
He stands out as the first freshman from a power conference to achieve more than 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists since Markelle Fultz in the 2016-17 season. Jakucionis is on track to break Illinois' freshman scoring average record and has already set a new record for most 20-point games by an Illinois freshman, achieving this feat ten times so far this season.
In addition to his recent recognition, Jakucionis has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. He is also included in several prestigious lists: he appears on the Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List, was selected for The Sporting News' Midseason All-America Third Team, and received unanimous selection for The Athletic's Freshman All-America Team.
The list of players on the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team includes notable names such as Ace Bailey from Rutgers, Johni Broome from Auburn, Hunter Dickinson from Kansas, and Cooper Flagg from Duke among others.
Kasparas Jakucionis joins other talented athletes like PJ Haggerty from Memphis and Tre Johnson from Texas in this midseason accolade list.
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