Breaking Down Stefan Vaaks' and Ethan Brown's Illinois Basketball Summer Highlights

Two of the new arrivals in Champaign recently saw their summer highlights released, and here's what we found

Jan 7, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars guard Stefan Vaaks (7) reacts to game action during the first half against the UConn Huskies at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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

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 | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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.