Stefan Vaaks Commits to Illinois from Providence
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- Stefan Vaaks committed to Illinois via his agents at Excel Sports Management, who confirmed the transfer to ESPN on Sunday
- Vaaks averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and shot 35% from three in his lone Providence season, earning top-10 transfer status in ESPN's rankings
- Vaaks delivered big-game scoring across Big East play: 23 and 20 points in two games against St. John's, 25 and 21 against Villanova, and 28 against Butler in the Big East tournament
- Illinois lands Vaaks as its first addition since reaching the Final Four earlier this month, filling backcourt spots vacated by Kylan Boswell (out of eligibility) and Keaton Wagler (projected lottery pick who declared for the NBA draft)
- Brad Underwood has cultivated a European pipeline, with Vaaks joining six players of European ties on this past season's roster, including Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Mihailo Petrovic, and Toni Bilic
Why it matters: Illinois is replacing both departing starting guards — one out of eligibility, one a projected lottery pick — with a top-10 transfer who averaged 15.8 points as a Big East freshman, continuing a European pipeline that supplied six internationally-tied players to a Final Four roster.
