The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program has added some serious height to its roster. New head coach Jerrod Calhoun announced that 6-foot-11, 210-pound center Deshaun "Shaun" Vaden is joining the team from Mount Union, bringing two seasons of eligibility to Fifth Third Arena.

Vaden's move to Cincinnati comes with a familiar connection: he's following his former coach, Mike Fuline, who recently joined the Bearcats' staff after 15 successful seasons leading the Mount Union Purple Raiders in Division III. It's a classic case of a player trusting his coach's vision at the next level.

"We are extremely excited about Deshaun joining the Bearcat family," Calhoun said in a statement. "His ability to impact the game on the defensive end will be a big boost for our front line. He has strong intangibles with size and length and, with his significant improvement in just a short time playing basketball, has room to grow substantially in our system."

What makes Vaden's story even more compelling? He didn't pick up a basketball until the seventh grade. Despite that late start, the big man quickly made his presence felt. Last season, he was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after blocking an eye-popping 102 shots in just 29 games—averaging only 15.6 minutes per contest. For perspective, that's more than double the 50 blocks that 7-foot-2 Moustapha Thiam led the Bearcats with last season (though admittedly, the level of competition was higher in the Big 12).

Vaden also posted a career-high eight blocks in a single game against Case Western Reserve, showing the kind of rim-protecting instincts that can change a game. With his length, defensive chops, and room to grow, he's a fascinating addition to a Bearcats roster that now stands at a dozen players under Calhoun's leadership.

Welcome to Cincinnati, Shaun—Bearcats fans are eager to see what you can do in the red and black.