Stefan Vaaks, a promising transfer guard from Providence College, has officially committed to the University of Illinois, as confirmed by his agents at Excel Sports Management. The 6-foot-7 player from Estonia made a significant impact during his freshman season, averaging 15.8 points and 3.2 assists while demonstrating impressive offensive versatility. Vaaks excelled particularly against strong opponents in the Big East, recording notable performances such as 28 points in the Big East tournament and multiple games scoring over 20 points against teams like St. John's and Villanova. His commitment marks Illinois' first addition since their recent Final Four run, filling the void left by Kylan Boswell, who has exhausted his eligibility, and Keaton Wagler, who declared for the NBA draft. Vaaks is part of a growing trend at Illinois, which has seen an influx of players with Balkan heritage under head coach Brad Underwood, who previously had six such players on his roster last season.