The buzz around Stefan Vaaks is only getting louder, and Illinois’ latest hype video did the heavy lifting.
The Illini social media team has been rolling out glimpses of the new roster, and each one seems to crank up the anticipation a little more. A few days ago, fans got a look at Lincoln Williams in an Illinois jersey. On Tuesday, it was Vaaks’ turn.
🟠 Newcomer First Look 🔵
Stefan Vaaks
No. 7
Tabasalu, Estonia pic.twitter.com/qxUDa03Rox
- Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) August 12, 2026
Vaaks arrived from Providence as a major get, and he’s been penciled into the projected starting five for a while now. But after watching that video, it’s fair to wonder whether he’s more than just a starter. He looks like a fast-track answer at point guard, too, with Keaton Wagler the obvious player in that conversation.
Of course, a hype video is built to showcase the good stuff. It’s not going to spotlight the rough possessions. Still, the clip gave a clear look at what Vaaks brings.
At 6-foot-7, he looks comfortable handling the ball like a point guard. He can push the pace up the floor, get downhill, absorb contact at the rim, and use his body control and perimeter skill to create his own shot.
There’s a blend here that stands out. If you mashed together Kasparas Jakucionis and Wagler, the result might look a lot like Vaaks. He seems to carry strong traits from both of those first-round NBA Draft picks.
Illinois should also be a much better fit for him than Providence was. The Friars were under .500 and, according to the source material, didn’t play much team basketball. At Illinois, Vaaks steps into a lineup full of All-Big Ten-caliber talent, and that changes everything.
Brad Underwood’s spacing should give him room to work, and there will be no shortage of options when he brings the ball up. He can hit a cutting Andrej Stojakovic, feed David Mirkovic on the block, or kick to Jake Davis in the corner. Or he can wave all that off, break down his defender, and bury a three.
What makes the whole thing even more striking is where Vaaks was ranked in the transfer portal. He came in at No. 15 in the 2026 cycle, a slot that now feels way too low.
The ceiling here is obvious enough to make you think All-Big Ten this season, and maybe even first-round NBA Draft territory in 2027. Big things are coming.
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 🡒]