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Illinois Fighting Illini land Stefan Vaaks via NCAA transfer portal
TL;DR
The Illinois Fighting Illini have secured former Providence guard Stefan Vaaks through the NCAA transfer portal. Vaaks, a 6-foot-7 player from Estonia, averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 assists last season and is considered one of the top transfers available.
The Illinois Fighting Illini have landed one of the prized transfers of the 2026 portal, according to the player's agents.
Former Providence freshman guard Stefan Vaaks has committed to Illinois, according to Excel Sports Management in an ESPN story Sunday. Vaaks is ranked among the top 10 players in the transfer portal by some analytics sites.
He's a 6-foot-7 player from Estonia whose playmaking and offensive versatility are highly rated. He averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and shot 35% from 3-point range for Providence in 2025-26 and earned Big East All-Freshman Team honors.
Vaaks will help fill a void in the Illini backcourt with the departure of Kylan Boswell – his eligibility expired – and freshman sensation Keaton Wagler, who has declared for the NBA Draft and is expected to be a lottery pick.
Vaaks joins an Illinois team that had a significant international presence last season on its roster, including Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic.
The latter two have both entered the transfer portal.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois gets highly rated Providence guard via NCAA transfer portal
Q&A
What are Stefan Vaaks' stats from his freshman year at Providence?
Stefan Vaaks averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and shot 35% from 3-point range during his freshman year at Providence.
Why did the Illinois Fighting Illini need to recruit Stefan Vaaks?
The Illini needed to fill gaps in their backcourt due to the departure of Kylan Boswell and the declaration of freshman Keaton Wagler for the NBA Draft.
How is Stefan Vaaks ranked among NCAA transfers?
Stefan Vaaks is ranked among the top 10 players in the NCAA transfer portal by various analytics sites.
