CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Brad Underwood announced Friday that Stefan Vaaks has signed a Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreement with the University of Illinois and will join the Fighting Illini program as a transfer.
Vaaks is a 6-foot-7-inch, 215-pound guard from Tabasalu, Estonia. He will join the Illini as a sophomore after a strong freshman season at Providence.
Vaaks was selected to the Big East All-Freshman Team after ranking third on the Friars and seventh in the Big East in scoring, averaging 15.8 ppg. He broke the Providence freshman points record, totaling 491 on the season. He scored in double figures in 29 of his 31 games, with 10 games of 20-plus points, led by a career-high 28 points in a win over Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament (March 11).
Vaaks did much of his scoring from 3-point range, leading the Big East with 91 triples (2.9 per game), the fourth-most in Providence history, on a Big East-best 35% from behind the arc (91-260). He made three or more treys in 18 games, highlighted by a career-high eight triples during his 30-point performance in the Big East Tournament vs. Butler.
Vaaks led the Friars in assists at 3.2 apg, led by a career-best 10 assists in his first career double-double (10 pts-10 ast) vs. FDU (Dec. 2). He also ranked fifth in the Big East in free throw shooting at 83.9% (94-112).
"Stefan had a very impactful freshman year at Providence, showing his versatility as a scorer and playmaker," Underwood said. "He is a tremendous 3-point shooter with unlimited range and a great passer who sees the floor well. We feel we have added one of the best offensive players in the portal who will fit well with our returnees and recruits."
