Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Please, please, PULEASE - can't wait for October to get here . . . . .
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Please, please, PULEASE - can't wait for October to get here . . . . .
He is so plug and play:
Crazy to see 6-7 kid with that thick build that can move like that. Think he is a better shooter than he showed last year (mainly
question how good their system was for him to get good looks consistently). Hope he can improve the rebounding & defense.
We might have to revisit my comment that he's the best offensive player in the portal at some point. Seems like a scalding hot take right now, but just hypothetically, if:
Vaaks puts together 16/5/5 on a F4 level team
Blackwell is right there scoring-wise, but without the assists
Haggerty averages 20+ but A&M doesn't do much
Then there's a pretty good argument for it.
I think he was close to the ideal pickup for us to play PG. Obvious concern is defense, but offensively he looks like the whole package.
I mean he made 2.9 threes per game on 35%. I mean sure you could say the % goes up but he showed a ton of shot-making.
That's the #1 priority.
16/5/5 is very unrealistic.
Other than Ayo, we haven't had a guy average 15+ / 5+ / 5+ in what 50 years? Even Keaton Wagler couldn't do it (5 assists).
The rebounding especially he hasn't shown to warrant confidence he'll get 5 per game (though I think he'll improve).
Him averaging 16 is probably more realistic than averaging 5 assists or 5 rebounds; however, I see him as the 2nd or 3rd scoring option on this team. Saying he'll get 16/game likely means he's 1st. I'm sure we'd be happy if it plays out that way, but Andrej is the most proven guy at the moment (with David not too far behind).
Fans always overstate player's scoring in the offseason; truth is there's only so many points and shots to go around. It's not unlimited. Usually what's happened at Illinois is one guy emerges as the 17ppg+ alpha, while the other top scorers remain in the 10-14 range.
14/4/4 is alot more realistic, IMO. That's still assuming he improves as a rebounder.
.....
As it pertains to Blackwell, he'll likely average more points, as he's Duke's top scoring option. (but they have so much depth, he might not end up THAT far ahead)
He's also a better rebounder than Vaaks. 5.1/game compared to 2.5 for Vaaks last season.
However, Vaaks will average more assists, as he's our go to facilitator.
.....
I absolutely think he's a made-in-lab fit for our offense. There's just so many quality pieces, that the stats won't be completely off the charts (unless he emerges as that Wagler type alpha), though they'll still be very good.
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Pretty good intel:
I thought KJ went 16/5/5 but maybe I’m rounding something up in my head, you’re right that it’s heavy lifting to get there. Mainly skeptical the rebounding would get there… some of those passes he makes I have no clue how he only averaged 3.2 assists.
KJ was 15/5.7/4.7
Agreed on the passing. Providence used him more as a scorer, but his ball screen ability is very good.
High confidence our staff will be able to unlock his floor general qualities.
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Yes Vaaks is a very good passer.
He didn't have a KJ type turnover rate either.
It's just unlocking the assists, which comes from a more constructed environment/offense.
He didn't have a KJ type turnover rate either.
It's just unlocking the assists, which comes from a more constructed environment/offense.