Illinois’ latest summer highlight drop offered a quick look at two newcomers, and the biggest takeaway from Stefan Vaaks and Ethan Brown is pretty simple: both arrived in Champaign with tools that should translate.
Vaaks, the transfer from Providence, already had a reputation as a shooter, and the clips did nothing to shake that. He led the Big East in three-pointers made and percentage as a freshman in 2025-26, which made his shot profile at Providence even more striking.
In the highlights, he buried catch-and-shoot jumpers, stepped into threes off the bounce and knocked down step-back looks without seeming bothered by contested hands. His balance on those step-backs stood out.
The scoring package went beyond the arc, too. Vaaks showed he can attack closeouts and put the ball on the floor, which matters for a player with his shooting gravity.
He looked comfortable going downhill, using pace to keep defenders off rhythm, and once he got into the lane, he showed craft finishing off two feet. He also flashed a more direct route to the rim, turning straight-line drives in halfcourt and transition into one-foot finishes before help could arrive.
The clip suggested Illinois may have gotten the three-level scorer it expected, even if how often he leans on the midrange in Champaign remains to be seen. What could really shape his offensive ceiling in 2026-27 is whether he can also function as a facilitator and a strong decision-maker.
Brown’s highlight reel had a different feel. There wasn’t much flash to it, but that doesn’t make it any less useful.
The freshman from Rolla, Mo., found open pockets of space inside the arc and beyond it, then made the defense pay when teammates found him. He finished at the rim, hit a handful of threes and generally looked like a player who understands where to be.
If Brown can defend, he could earn minutes quickly. He looks heady, shoots it well and doesn’t appear to force the issue.
And while that last part is hard to fully judge before the season starts, Brad Underwood has already praised Brown’s athleticism. Brown gave a brief taste of it in the highlights, slipping by Jake Davis on one play and later finishing with a two-step dunk on another.
In Other News...
Illinois May Have Found A Local Quarterback Worth Watching Closely
A local quarterback has started to pop up on Illinois radar, and he is still early enough in his high school career to make the next few years worth monitoring. Carson Noy put together a strong freshman season at Farmington Central High School, helping his team find success while showing enough at the position to draw attention from the Illini staff.
Noy has already spent time around Illinois, working at a camp and speaking with a coach about what could come next if his development keeps trending in the right direction. For now, he is focused on sharpening his leadership and quarterback skills, the sort of steady progression that often matters as much as raw production when a local prospect starts turning heads. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Has One Roster Spot Left And A Big Frontcourt Decision
Illinois is sitting at 14 players as mid-August turns into the final stretch of roster-building, with one scholarship spot still open and Brad Underwood leaving the door cracked for another addition. The need is easy to understand. Recent departures have thinned the frontcourt, and the Illini are also waiting on the status of David Mirkovic after foot surgery, leaving the staff with a little less certainty than it would prefer this late in the process.
Underwood has made clear that if the right piece becomes available, Illinois would at least consider it, especially if the bigger-picture eligibility picture breaks a certain way elsewhere. Elijah Saunders and Nick Townsend are among the names that could come into the conversation, but for now the situation remains in the holding pattern that defines a lot of late-summer roster work. The spot is there, the need is real, and the next move may depend on developments the Illini cannot control. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Underwood Faces A Huge In-State Battle For 5-Star Talent
Brad Underwood is once again trying to keep a top in-state talent close to home, and this one comes with plenty of competition. Brady Pettigrew, a five-star prospect from Illinois and the No. 16 overall player in the 2028 class, remains deep in the recruiting process with a growing list of suitors, but the Illini have the kind of home-state appeal that can matter when elite prospects start sorting through their options.
Illinois is set to host Pettigrew on Oct. 2, a date that gives Underwood and his staff a chance to make their case in person before the race tightens further. Michigan, Florida, Ohio State and Arkansas are also in the mix, which means the Illini will have to sell both the programs recent recruiting track record and the pull of staying close to familiar ground if they want to stay in the center of this battle. [Read more 🡒]