Brad Underwood sees immediate fit with Stefan Vaaks as Illinois’ offseason hinge piece

Illinois men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood’s early impressions of incoming Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks center on fit and role definition. Underwood framed the offseason as an exercise in solving a specific basketball problem: beyond the Illini’s returning core, who would consistently be the go-to perimeter option capable of both initiating the offense and producing as a primary scorer.

The Illini return a sizable and versatile group headlined by David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic. In the team’s internal calculus, those players give Illinois size, shooting and overall playmaking. Still, Underwood’s remarks emphasized that the roster’s balance needed a more singular perimeter answer, particularly someone who could handle the “triggerman” expectations in the backcourt while remaining a steady facilitator.

Vaaks, who arrives as a transfer guard, is being described as the player who can carry that load. According to Underwood’s assessment, Vaaks is a 6-foot-7 wing/guard type who can attack the rim and also shoot effectively off the catch or after moving the ball with a dribble. That combination matters for Illinois because it shifts spacing and pressure, creating situations where defenders must respect both penetration and immediate shot-making.

Just as important in Underwood’s framing is playmaking. Vaaks is reported to have proven his ability to make others better by leading Providence in assists last season, a detail that points toward a creation role rather than a purely catch-and-shoot function. In Illinois’ halfcourt, the ability to score and also organize possessions can reduce the burden on the rest of the lineup, especially in late-clock situations when teams often try to simplify scouting: take away the best shooter and force the ball into less comfortable options.

The transfer also arrives into a program identity built around multiple skill layers. Illinois has benefited from having several players who can contribute across scoring, passing and rebounding, which can make matchups difficult in conference play. Underwood’s comments suggest Vaaks is intended to add a perimeter focal point without stripping the Illini of what already worked, effectively turning a team strength into something more specific: a clear, reliable initiation and decision-making layer.

For the upcoming season, the most practical question is how quickly Illinois can integrate Vaaks into the system so his shot creation and passing show up on a consistent basis. The returning group gives the Illini plenty of spacing and rim pressure, but the coaching staff’s early takeaway indicates the offense’s “go-to” rhythm likely will flow through Vaaks at least in meaningful stretches, particularly when Illinois needs an assured perimeter possession.

Illinois’ coaching staff will also have to manage expectations for the broader rotation. Underwood’s comments about the need for a triggerman point to a role that comes with responsibilities, not just opportunities. How that impacts usage and shot distribution with Stojakovic and the Ivisics, as well as how Mirkovic’s leadership anchors the forward activity, is likely to be one of the defining storylines to watch in early nonconference action and then, eventually, against Big Ten defenses that make every decision costly.