| Team | Illinois Fighting Illini |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Height in | 7 |
| Weight lbs | 212 |
| Birth date | 8 May 2005 (age 21) |
| Birth place | Tabasalu, Estonia |
| College |
|
| Career start | 2023 |
| Years 1 | 2023–2024 |
| Team 1 | Viimsi |
| Years 2 | 2024–2025 |
| Team 2 | BC Kalev |
| Highlights |
|
Stefan Vaaks (born 8 May 2005) is an Estonian college basketball player for the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the Providence Friars. Vaaks has also represented the Estonian national basketball team internationally.
College career
On 4 April 2025, it was announced that Vaaks will play for the Providence Friars basketball team in the 2025–26 season.[1] In the Big East Tournament, Vaaks scored 28 points against Butler. Vaaks was also chosen to the Big East All-Freshman Team.[2] He averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 assists per game, while shooting 35% from 3-point range. Vaaks transferred to Illinois for his sophomore season.[3][4]
Professional career
Spending four years in CB Estudiantes academy, Vaaks came back to Estonia and signed with Viimsi of the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League for the 2023–24 season.[5]
Vaaks left Viimsi to Kalev/Cramo after the season start.[6] That season he won the Estonian Cup, became the Estonian champion with Kalev and was chosen to the Latvian-Estonian League All-Star Five.
National team career
Vaaks has represented the Estonian U18 Team at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B tournament.[7]
In 2025, he made a debut for the Estonian national team in EuroBasket 2025 qualification tournament against North Macedonia, scoring 4 points in a 84–65 win.[8]
Career statistics
Domestic leagues
| Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Viimsi | LEBL | 26 | 27.3 | .436 | .355 | .699 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .3 | 15.6 |
| 2024–25 | 1 | 26.4 | .46.5 | .500 | 1.000 | 6.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 13.0 | ||
| BC Kalev | 29 | 24.3 | .483 | .331 | .750 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 | .4 | 15.2 |
College
|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2025–26 | style="text-align:left;"| Providence | 31 || 22 || 31.5 || .403 || .350 || .839 || 2.5 || 3.2 || .8 || .3 || 15.8 |- |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 31 || 22 || 31.5 || .403 || .350 || .839 || 2.5 || 3.2 || .8 || .3 || 15.8
References
- ^ "Estonian basketball player Stefan Vaaks looking forward to joining NCAA's Providence". 14 April 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Jaylin Sellers Named Second Team All-BIG EAST; Stefan Vaaks And Jamier Jones Named To All-Freshman Team". 8 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ^ Borzello, Jeff (April 12, 2026). "Guard Stefan Vaaks will transfer to Illinois, agents say". ESPN. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ^ "Vaaks Signs with Fighting Illini". 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ^ "Viimased neli aastat Hispaanias toimetanud Eesti noortekoondislane liitus Viimsiga". 21 August 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Eesti korvpalli suuremaid talente liitus Kalev/Cramoga". 19 October 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Karjääris uut sammu astuv Stefan Vaaks Hispaania aastatest, Eesti-Läti liiga ootustest ja U18 EM-ist". 1 September 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Stefan Vaaks: ülivägev on teha debüüt nii otsustavas mängus". 21 February 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.