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To be clear, nobody is expecting a player to come into the Illinois basketball program and own the campus as Keaton Wagler did. Nobody is actually “replacing” Keaton Wagler.
His one-and-only season for the Illini is the stuff of legend. Hopefully, you appreciated him thoroughly while he wore the Orange and Blue.
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Wagler’s number will be in the rafters, and his name will be on the lips of Illinois fans for generations.
His name will also be uttered frequently on the recruiting trail. Both prep and transfer portal prospects can see the benefits of following in Wagler’s Nike sneakers in Champaign.
While John Blackwell is the most well-known pursuit for an Illini program casting a narrow net in the transfer portal, Providence guard Stefan Vaaks is a name that keeps surfacing.
Vaaks is a name that immediately made sense to Illini observers. The 6-foot-7 Baltic guard averaged 15.8 points per game for Providence as a true freshman. With three years of eligibility remaining, he has a high ceiling as both a sniper and a facilitator.
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His positional size and skill set make him a natural fit to fill the Wagler-sized hole in the Illini backcourt.
Vaaks shot 35% from behind the three-point arc in his lone season with the Friars. While that number doesn’t “wow” like Paul McNeil Jr., it does show his ability to score from deep.
Vaaks was the focal point of the Friars’ offense. He had a 31% usage rate last season. For context, Wagler had a 28.5% usage rate. He showed an ability to dominate the ball and fill it up.
I encourage you to take three-and-a-half minutes of your day to watch this video. You will see many Brad Underwood-friendly, useful traits.
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He has a lightning-quick release
He can make the shots Underwood calls “gold medal” shots. As evidence, he shot 40% on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
He has excellent positional size
He excels in opportunities to space the floor
If Illinois lands both Vaaks and John Blackwell, that would give Illinois two guards who…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/illinois-eyeing-unconventional-transfer-portal-105214538.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-12 10:52:00
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