Yardbarker
x
Two Illini Players Featured in CBS Sports' 2024-25 Player Rankings
Feb 10, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kylan Boswell (4) controls the ball against Colorado Buffaloes guard J'Vonne Hadley (1) in the first half at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Two Illini Players Featured in CBS Sports' 2024-25 Player Rankings

Originally posted on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI
By Jackson Langendorf  |  Last updated Oct 24, 2024 10:08 PM ET

With the NCAA men’s basketball season set to get underway in less than two weeks, CBS released its rankings of the Top 100 and 1 players in the nation. The list was put together by college basketball experts Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander and Kyle Boone. Altogether, 23 Big Ten players were listed, including two Illini:

Kylan Boswell, guard

Clocking in at No. 90 on the list, Boswell, transfer guard from Arizona, is expected to play a big role for this season's Illini. A top-five point guard recruit in the class of 2023, Boswell reclassified to 2022 and joined the Wildcats a year early. Last season, he shot 37.9 percent from long range and led Arizona with 50 steals. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he’s a strong guard who can shoot and defend.

Read Boswell's full Illinois on SI scouting report

Kasparas Jakucionis

Jakucionis – or KJ, as his teammates often call him – is a freshman from Lithuania who landed at No. 86 on CBS' list. It's clear that Jakucionis’ ceiling is sky-high, and CBS even notes that his ranking may be “50 spots too low” by season's end. Pegged as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Jakucionis is a 6-foot-6 lead guard known for being an ultra-smooth operator out of the pick-and-roll.

Read Jakucionis' full Illinois on SI scouting report: Coming Monday

After Illinois added 10 newcomers in the offseason, questions will swirl around the Illini for weeks – and perhaps months – into the season. But none of them will be about this backcourt. Featuring Jakucionis and Boswell at the 1 and 2, the Illini already have the key ingredients to ponder another deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Other Big Ten players in CBS' rankings (in order):

100. Kobe Johnson, UCLA94. Jaden Akins, Michigan State93. Fletcher Loyer, Purdue92. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue88. Dylan Andrews, UCLA87. Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana72. Desmond Claude, USC68. Julian Reese, Maryland63. Malik Reneau, Indiana53. Jackson Shelstead, Oregon45. Dawson Garcia, Minnesota43. Myles Rice, Indiana42. Ace Baldwin, Penn State36. Vlad Goldin, Michigan30. Payton Sandfort, Iowa29. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State24. Ace Bailey, Rutgers18. Oumar Ballo, Indiana17. Dylan Harper, Rutgers15. Great Osobor, Washington9. Braden Smith, Purdue

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Will 'Booty Ball' Make a Triumphant Comeback for Illinois Basketball?

Andy Katz Picks Illinois Basketball as a Dark Horse Final Four Contender

Illinois Basketball Misses Out on AP 2024-25 Preseason Top 25 Poll

This article first appeared on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.