CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Last week, U of I men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood added one of the most prolific freshman scorers in the country to next year’s roster, announcing the signing of Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks.
Vaaks, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound guard from Tabasalu, Estonia, will join the Illini as a sophomore after breaking the Providence freshman points record with 491 points in his first college season. He averaged 15.8 points per game, ranked third on the Friars and seventh in the Big East in scoring, and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team.
His calling card is shooting from deep. Vaaks led the Big East with 91 three-pointers on a conference-best 35 percent clip, the fourth-most triples in Providence history. He scored in double figures in 29 of his 31 games, with 10 games of 20 or more points. His season high was 30 points against Butler in the Big East Tournament, a game in which he also knocked down a career-high eight three-pointers.
Beyond scoring, Vaaks led the Friars in assists at 3.2 per game and shot 83.9 percent from the free throw line.
“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.”