The 2025 NBA Draft is currently underway, with Round 1 taking place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Former Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis was selected 20th overall by the Miami Heat. Shortly after that, his former FC Barcelona youth teammate, Dame Sarr, took to Instagram to share a quiet but powerful tribute that recalled their memories together at the club.
Dame Sarr Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Kasparas Jakučionis After Miami Selection
The Miami Heat finally made their move in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting Jakučionis with the 20th overall pick. The former Illinois guard was the Heat’s only acquisition of this year, as they didn’t hold any extra first-round or second-round picks. Jakučionis had a standout freshman season at Illinois, where he set multiple records and earned All-Big Ten honors, including a freshman program record with 10 games of 20+ points.
We’ve got our guy! Welcome to the 305, Kasparas Jakučionis! pic.twitter.com/r7t6Rti3Y0
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 26, 2025
Shortly after his selection, his former teammate Sarr shared a touching tribute that took fans down memory lane. Sarr posted an old photo of the two from their time in FC Barcelona’s youth setup, captioned, “Dream come true ❤️🙏❤️.”
Their connection has always been special, and this heartfelt gesture following the draft was a simple reminder of that bond. Both born in 2006, Sarr in Italy and Jakučionis in Lithuania, the two were signed by FC Barcelona’s elite youth academy. They played side by side from 2022 to 2024, competing in multiple Liga EBA and junior-level tournaments.
They both had a great time in Barcelona, but Sarr’s exit was filled with controversy. In April 2025, he traveled without Barça’s permission to the Nike Hoop Summit in Oregon, where he impressed scouts with a 17-point performance.
Barcelona considered this a breach of contract and suspended him, but eventually, the two parties mutually agreed to part ways on April 17. After leaving Barcelona, he explored college options and ultimately committed to Duke University on May 22.
Meanwhile, Jakučionis had left the team before the Duke star did and went on to have a strong freshman season at Illinois. He averaged a team-high 15 points, along with 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 33 games. He had long been projected as a first-round pick, but his draft stock dipped slightly due to struggles in the final month of the season.
ALSO READ: What Caused Kasparas Jakučionis, a Projected Top-10 Pick, to Slide in the 2025 NBA Draft?
