- Providence College has secured commitments from two basketball players: Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards and Estonian wing Stefan Vaaks.
- Edwards, a skilled scorer, previously played for North Texas and Vanderbilt, while Vaaks brings international experience from playing in Estonia.
- These commitments, along with two previous additions, aim to strengthen the Friars’ roster for the 2025-26 season after a disappointing 12-20 finish.
Providence College continued its men’s basketball transfer portal additions with a pair of commitments on Friday morning.
Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards and Estonian wing Stefan Vaaks have both pledged to the Friars. Edwards shared the news on his personal social media accounts while Vaaks was linked with the program by Juco Advocate.
Edwards comes from the SEC, which secured 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament and boasts a pair of Final Four teams in Auburn and Florida. Vaaks has been an overseas professional for multiple seasons and shifts to the Big East next season. They join Cole Hargrove and Daquan Davis in what is now a four-man spring class for the Friars.
Edwards is an Atlanta native who redshirted in his first junior college season and starred in his second. He was an All-American at Dodge City in 2022-23, averaging 21.9 points and helping his team to the national quarterfinals. Edwards was the Kansas Jayhawk (junior college) Conference Player of the Year and was named to the All-American first team.
Edwards made an immediate impact at North Texas in 2023-24, starting in 22 of his 34 games and averaging 19.1 points. He collected five 30-point games, including a season-high 37 against Tulane. Edwards was an all-conference and all-district selection for his efforts.
Edwards extended that form to a lone season with the Commodores, averaging 17.0 points for an NCAA Tournament qualifier. He started 24 of 33 games, shot 35.3% from 3-point range and ranked in the top 70 nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes. Edwards hit for 18 points in a March Madness loss to Saint Mary’s, the last of his 26 games netting 15 points or more.
“As we watched more and more of Jason’s game at Vanderbilt and North Texas we fell in love with the spirit and passion he plays with,” Providence coach Kim English said. “His ability to score the ball consistently with no fear makes him a great player.”
Vaaks celebrates his 20th birthday next month and has already represented his country at the U18 and senior levels. He averaged 15.0 points through eight games in the 2023 European Championship and appeared in a pair of games at the 2024 EuroBasket qualifiers. Vaaks is among Estonia’s premier perimeter prospects at 6-foot-6.
Vaaks was a 20-point scorer in four of his six most recent games with BC Kalev/Cramo, including 24 points in a win over BK Liepaja. He’s averaging 14.9 points and shooting 47.6% through 27 games this season, including 33.3% from 3-point range. Vaaks made his club debut with Viimsi before moving to his current organization, the 14-time champions in their league.
Edwards and Vaaks follow Hargrove and Davis in joining the Friars for the 2025-26 season. It’s a step up for Hargrove from the Coastal Athletic Association ranks with Drexel and a second chance for Davis after his prep recruitment and a year at Florida State. He initially pledged to Providence in June 2023 before having a change of heart and playing with the Seminoles for a lone season.
The Friars will add Edwards, Vaaks and Davis to a perimeter group that already includes veteran guard Corey Floyd Jr., Rich Barron and incoming freshman wing Jaylen Harrell. Hargrove will work in the frontcourt alongside athletic freshman Jamier Jones, Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela. Erhunmwunse and Mela were a pair of bright spots in a 2024-25 season that finished in a 12-20 disappointment.
Providence has lost Bryce Hopkins (St. John’s) and Christ Essandoko (South Carolina), and there could be more departures to come. Jayden Pierre, Justyn Fernandez, Eli DeLaurier and Anton Bonke all remain in the transfer portal.
