Lithuania guard Kasparas Jakucionis has committed to the University of Illinois. Jakucionis is considered one of the top international guards heading to a United States college, and he's a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-6 guard has appeared in five games for Barcelona across various competitions over the last two seasons. Across multiple different competition, with Barcelona and their youth team, Jakucionis averaged 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Jakucionis is just one of what is expected to be several international players to commit to playing college basketball in the United States. The advent of NIL deals has made collegiate basketball a more attractive path for foreign-born players than it used to be.

University of Illinois senior forward Coleman Hawkins has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Hawkins could have played a fifth season of college basketball, due to the NCAA granting players an addition year of eligibility due to COVID-impacted seasons.

Hawkins was a two-year starter for the Illini. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks as a senior.

Hawkins projects to be a late second-round pick or a possible post-draft two-way signee.