As Illinois continues to release its 2026 newcomer highlights, we get a glimpse – although it is a look at the carefully picked best plays – into the performance of new players in Champaign. The latest was transfer Stefan Vaaks, but we'll also circle back to freshman Ethan Brown. Here's what we learned about each:
Illinois' Stefan Vaaks is a true three-level scorer
Well, it's not as though Vaaks being a deadeye from deep is exactly breaking news. He led the Big East in three-pointers made and percentage as a freshman in 2025-26 – a pair of feats made even more impressive considering his shot diet at Providence.
And in the highlights shown by the Illini social media team, Vaaks hasn't missed a beat. He's knocking down jumpers off the catch. He's canning step-in triples off the bounce. And of course, Vaaks is connecting on step-back jumpers, entirely undeterred by any outstretched arms. (Side note: his balance on step-backs is absurdly impressive.)
Newcomer First Look
Stefan Vaaks
No. 7
Tabasalu, Estonia pic.twitter.com/qxUDa03Rox– Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) August 12, 2026
Vaaks can also get to the rack, though. He can drive closeouts – which is a must for a high-level shooter. Going downhill, he can be patient and poised, playing with pace and almost lulling defenders to sleep. And Vaaks is also crafty off two feet once he's inside the paint (or near it).
But he also has the ability to straight-line drive – be it in the halfcourt or transition – and then quickly finish at the rim off one foot, beating any help defender attempting to protect the rim.
He seems to be all of the three-level scorer the Illini expected him to be (although how often he deploys that midrange in Champaign remains to be seen). But Vaaks' ability to be a facilitator and a high-level decision-maker may determine his offensive ceiling in 2026-27.
Illinois freshman Ethan Brown has a college-ready skill set
Newcomer First Look
Ethan Brown
No. 34
Rolla, Mo. pic.twitter.com/Ty3HkUOnIJ– Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) July 29, 2026
There doesn't appear to be a lot of flashiness to Brown's game. And that's not a bad thing at all. Brown finds open space – both inside and beyond the arc – and converts if his teammates find him. And he showed just that in his highlights, finishing off passes at the rim and knocking down a handful of threes.
If Brown can defend, then he can be a valuable rotation piece from the jump. He is heady, a good shooter and doesn't seem to play outside of himself. (Then again, on that latter point, it's hard to truly know with freshmen until the season actually begins).
And not for nothing, Brad Underwood has praised Brown's athleticism – which he briefly flashed in the highlights by blowing by Jake Davis on one play and then throwing down a two-step dunk on another.
Today's best reads
- Should Illinois Basketball Add a Fifth-Year Player for 2026-27?
- Can Lincoln Williams Make an Immediate Impact for Illinois Basketball in Year 1?
- ESPN Projects Illinois Basketball's 2026-27 Ceiling and Floor: Are They Too Low?
- Who Will Earn Illinois Basketball's Final Rotation Spot in 2026-27?
- What Illinois Basketball Would Need From Zvonimir Ivisic as a Starter
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/illinois as Breaking Down Stefan Vaaks' and Ethan Brown's Illinois Basketball Summer Highlights.
