Best- and Worst-Case Scenario for Illinois’ Stefan Vaaks in 2026-27

Over the past two offseasons, Illinois has prioritized quality over quantity in the transfer portal. Gone are the days of the Illini bringing in four or five transfers at once. In 2025, the number was two – and it paid off as Brad Underwood’s squad earned a Final Four berth behind notable contributions from both Andrej Stojakovic (Cal) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas).

In 2026, the quality appears to be so good that Illinois plucked only one piece from the portal: guard Stefan Vaaks (Providence). Here is our projection of the best- and worst-case scenario for Vaaks’ 2026-27 season in Champaign:

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Projecting the best outcome for Illinois’ Stefan Vaaks in 2026-27

Mar 12, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Providence Friars guard Stefan Vaaks (7) controls the ball against St. John’s Red Storm guard Dylan Darling (0) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Vaaks’ estimated stats: 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists on 42/38/85 shooting splits
Illinois’ projected record: 31-6

In a dream scenario, here is how Vaaks’ first season in Champaign plays out: He settles in quickly, splits backcourt duties with freshman Quentin Coleman and serves as the de facto action-creator on the perimeter.

Vaaks has already proven that he thrives in ball-screen action. Ideally, that translates to Illinois, where he’ll have a handful of dream pick-and-roll partners at his disposal between David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic, to name a few.

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Then, with such a talented roster surrounding him, Vaaks likely won’t draw as much defensive attention, allowing him to get cleaner looks from deep, which, in turn, should result in his three-point percentage climbing.

As for the overlooked aspect of his game which is in desperate need of improvement – rebounding – Vaaks should have that straightened out by Underwood. There is no way around it: 2.5 rebounds per game in 31.5 minutes at 6-foot-7 is flat-out…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/best-worst-case-scenario-illinois-215359883.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-20 21:53:00

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