One day after the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship, the college basketball transfer portal opened.
The Tribune is tracking the major roster additions, subtractions and announcements of local teams.
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Sunday: Providence guard Stefan Vaaks committed to Illinois, he posted on Instagram.
What it means: Vaaks, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Estonia, was named to the Big East all-freshman team in his first season.
He averaged 15.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Before coming to the United States, he played a season with BC Kalev/Carmo in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League. ESPN ranked him as the ninth-best player in the portal.
He joins an Illinois team in need of a boost at guard with the departures of Keaton Wagler, who has declared for the NBA draft, and Kylan Boswell, who is out of eligibility.
Vaaks is the latest in a long line of international players to join the Illini, including Croatian twin centers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić and Montenegrin forward David Mirković. Those players had not yet announced their plans for next season as of Sunday afternoon.
Saturday: Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler declared for the NBA draft
Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (23) works against UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. in the first half during the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
What it means: Wagler was expected to move on to the NBA after the best freshman season ever by an Illini.
After joining Illinois as the No. 261 recruit, Wagler became a consensus All-American and the Jerry West shooting guard of the year in one season in Champaign. He set multiple Illinois freshman records, including scoring average with 17.9 points per game and 3-pointers with 87. He also averaged 4.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds while leading Illinois to its first Final Four appearance since 2005.
Wagler made the announcement on Instagram, thanking Brad Underwood and the Illinois staff “for believing in me when others did not.” Wagler had two high-major offers out of high school, and ESPN now rates him as the fifth-best prospect in the NBA draft.
Meanwhile, Illinois now has a big hole to fill with the departure of its leading scorer, along with backcourt mate Kylan Boswell, who is out of eligibility.
Two other Illini players also are reportedly leaving. Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrović and Croatian forward Toni Bilić are entering the portal, according to DraftExpress and 247Sports.
Petrović played in just 18 games, averaging 1.7 points per game. Bilić came to the Illini in December and practiced with the team but did not play.
Northwestern’s Angelo Ciaravino, Jake West and Phoenix Gill announced their returns
Northwestern guard Angelo Ciaravino grabs a rebound against Purdue during the Big Ten Tournament on March, 12, 2026, at the United Center. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
What it means: Northwestern is on track for a roster reboot, but it will return guards Ciaravino and West, who had 35 starts between them in 2025-26. Ciaravino averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and West averaged 5.3 points and 2.4 assists in his first season.
Gill, the son of former Illinois star Kendall Gill, played in 11 games as a freshman.
Those announcements came after multiple reports of Wildcats players entering the portal following a 15-19 and 5-15 season.
Northwestern will lose second-team all-Big Ten forward Nick Martinelli to graduation, but it also could lose its next three scorers.
According to multiple reports, including from On3.com, forward Arrinten Page, forward Tre Singleton and guard Jayden Reid were among eight Wildcats players to enter the portal.
Thursday: Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo will return for her senior year
Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo celebrates late in the second half against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16 on March 27, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (LM Otero/AP)
What it means: Hidalgo announced on social media that she was returning to Notre Dame for her senior season after leading the Irish to the Elite Eight in 2026. As a junior, Hidalgo was named the Naismith and WBCA national defensive player of the year and a first team All-American by multiple outlets.
She already holds the NCAA record for single-season and single-game steals and the Notre Dame single-season scoring record. She also ranks second in career scoring in program history.
Hidalgo averaged 25.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 steals and 5.2 assists last season.