CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois freshman sensation Kasparas Jakucionis has earned a spot on the prestigious John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday.
Jakucionis, the 13th-ranked Fighting Illini’s point guard, is turning heads with a historic rookie season. He averages 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists and shoots 50% from the field, over 41% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
The two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree has already broken the Illinois freshman record with six consecutive 20-point games. He’s now just two games away from matching the Illini’s single-season freshman record of eight and is on track to break the school’s freshman scoring and free-throw percentage records.
Jakucionis is among seven freshmen and five Big Ten players on the midseason watch list, which honors the nation’s top college basketball players competing for the Wooden Award All-American Team and the Player of the Year title.
The Wooden Award recognizes the most outstanding player in college basketball, factoring in character, academic performance, and on-court achievements. Finalists will be selected during the NCAA Tournament, with nearly 1,000 voters ranking their top 10 candidates. Winners and All-Americans will be celebrated at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 11.