Overview
- Vaaks’ commitment, disclosed Sunday by his agents to ESPN, gives Illinois its first transfer addition for next season.
- The 6-foot-7 Estonian averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 assists at Providence, shot 35% from three, and ranked as a top-10 transfer by ESPN.
- He is expected to help replace Illinois’ starting backcourt after Kylan Boswell exhausted his eligibility and Keaton Wagler declared for the NBA draft.
- Vaaks earned Big East All-Freshman honors and arrived in college with pro experience in Estonia for KK Viimsi and BC Kalev/Cramo.
- Illinois continues to build the roster through the portal, with reports linking the program to Wisconsin guard John Blackwell and with signed recruit Lucas Morillo set to join.