Stefan Vaaks represents a new era of college basketball
Stefan Vaaks’ impressive start to his Providence career is representative of the new era of college basketball. The impact of international players has grown exponentially recently – mostly due to the enticing monetary prospects for top European players to come play here in the States.
UConn won back-to-back national championships by adding European principles and plays to their offense, and now we have seen top players from abroad running those same plays and bringing over the motion-offense principles European basketball is known for.
Stefan Vaaks – at almost 15 points a game (14.8) on 43% from the field and 38% from three through six games – can only be compared to one Friar freshman in recent memory.
How about LaDontae Henton and his 14 points a game on 45% from the field and 39% from three? That is high praise for Vaaks – a player who many weren’t sure would have earned consistent minutes his freshman year coming in with no college basketball experience and recovering from injury.
Going into the 2025–26 season many praised the depth of our Friars, but as it seems to be too familiar under Kim English, injuries have been consistent each season. And with more playing time up for grabs Vaaks has shined.
What makes Vaaks so great? To me it’s simple – it’s his fundamental comfortable approach to creating his own shots. As we have seen more top players from Europe play in college basketball, their ability to create their own shot while also being able to see the floor differently differentiates them from many top American-born players. The style of play in AAU and high school basketball may lead to high scoring totals, but foundationally many players struggle not being “the guy” and finding the ability to play a role when they make it to college basketball. Vaaks has thrived finding a role for himself – a role clear with confidence in his outside shot and ability to tightly cross over and rise into a three in transition.
I would compare Bensley Joseph’s comfort in Kim’s system almost to his, although different in size and their games – both players possessed the confidence to get shots up from three early in the shot clock – whether in transition or off the bounce. Vaaks’ ability to pass is going a little underappreciated with all his scoring prowess on display.
The second half of the Penn game saw some fiery passes from #7 with very good accuracy. At this point we all have questioned a crosscourt one-arm pass from Vaaks that has somehow ended up right in the hands of a shooter open for a corner three. The heightened pace of play these ‘25-26 Friars have played with has seemed complementary to his game, whereas for others over the past three years it has sometimes seemed challenging playing with such freedom.
During the offseason, the Providence Crier, Mike Surette, and I were almost giggly about the intrigue Vaaks brought to this roster – but I don’t think either of us could have imagined Vaaks to be rivaling Jaylin Sellers for second in scoring on the team this early on.
These upcoming games against heightened competition at the Rady’s Children Classic will provide a challenge but also an opportunity on a bigger stage for “Baby Luka” as many now affectionately call him. Vaaks will no doubt be hard to remove from the starting lineup for the remainder of the season, even as Corey Floyd Jr. and Duncan Powell return fully from injuries.
With real NBA size at 6’7 and a deep bag of ability to create from the perimeter, Stefan Vaaks is not just eyeing Big East Freshman of the Year and you can see it in the passion he brings to each game.
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