Following the official firing of Coach Kim English after three years that couldn’t have been more middling, Stefan Vaaks is the second domino to fall, with the Estonian Assassin being the first Providence Friar to step into the Transfer Portal. I am positive that he will not be the last to do so and there is still the possibility that any of the players that enter the portal could potentially come back to Friartown (albeit unlikely) but the team doesn’t have a coach as of today and it makes the most sense for players to see what’s out there for them.

Vaaks was named to the All-Freshman Team for the Big East in what was one of the top Freshman classes in the league’s history.

The Marquette blog Paint Touches broke down how it is, at worst, the 2nd best All-Freshman Team in Big East history. The 6’7” guard averaged 15.8 ppg, 3.2 apg (somehow leading the team), & 2.5 rpg while shooting 35.0% from three on 8.4 attempts per game (Top-25 Nationally) and 83.9% from the free throw line. His 91 made three-points were the fourth most made threes in a season in Providence history behind Bryce Cotton, Billy Donovan, and Pop Lewis. His three-point shooting prowess was on full display during the Big East Tournament where Stefan matched a single-game tourney record with 8 made threes against Butler on just 13 attempts and another 5 made threes (all in the 2nd half) in the Friars loss to St. John’s.

Vaaks came to Providence with professional experience playing for BC Kalev/Cramo in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League, widely considered the 2nd best league in Europe, and also as a member of the Estonian National Team in the European Championship. His time playing against grown men absolutely contributed to his readiness to step right in and contribute from Day 1 (I mean, he is a 20 year old Freshman after all but still).

He is going to be highly sought after for his services by an endless amount of really good basketball teams so my hope is that he either goes pro or heads way out west away from any Big East school.