Before the college basketball recruiters set their eyes on the latest shot-blocking prodigy from Sudan, it was another sport that caught the fancy of Majur Majak (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.).

Majak dabbled in volleyball where his long arms and impressive wingspan were obvious advantages but it was as a 6-foot-9 marking back on the soccer field that he began to show next-level athletic ability. In a country that saw Manute Bol leave home to become a phenom in Connecticut in his lone season at Division II Bridgeport back in the 1980s, it wasn't long before he gravitated to the game of basketball.

Some 35 years later, Majak has found a home at the University of New Haven as he hopes to follow Bol's path of using college basketball experience here in the Nutmeg State before playing professionally.

"My dream is to go to the NBA," Majak said. "I am working hard at it to be able to know that is something I need to achieve in my life. I want to take care of my family. My goal is to play every day and improve my game and see where I can go."

Majak thrived while learning more about the sport while playing in the Basketball Without Borders program. He made the decision to leave home as a teenager. He moved in with a family in New York and embarked on new experiences far from home. In high school, he had stops at Roselle Catholic and The Patrick School in New Jersey before staying in the Garden State to play at St. Peter's.

He was able to play alongside current NBA forward Naz Reid at Roselle Catholic before landing at the Patrick School. He was a bit of a work in progress during his high school days but still drew plenty of attention from Division I programs because of his potential and shot-blocking prowess.

Majak blocked 40 shots in 47 games during his two seasons at St. Peter's but he only played double-digit minutes 13 times in those two seasons. Looking for a chance to be part of the main rotation, he entered the transfer portal.

"The playing time, I wasn't happy with it," Majak said. "I am happy here because we are on the same page and I am happy with my playing time."

When veteran New Haven coach Ted Hotaling recruited Majak, he also got to know the family that brought Majur in as one of their own. Hotaling will never forget what they said to him shortly after Majak decided to further his education and basketball at New Haven.

"He'll change you more than you will change him."

Truer words might never have been spoken.

It is rare to see Majak without a smile on his face. He has embraced life in New Haven and is enjoying more than just the basketball part of his experience.

"He is just a unique human being," Hotaling said. "You recruit and you want kids to care about the right things. I think kids might care about how many points you are going to score, some kids have their eyes towards playing professionally. I think Majur is very unique in that he enjoys the parts of the game that includes his teammates, includes the experience. He is a very positive person but one of the things is that he is a very positive human being, that is his default. I think our guys recognize that, I think our coaching staff recognizes that and I think people are drawn to that in a very powerful way. He is very engaging, he is very happy for his teammates when they do well which is very unique. He cares about the right things and I think that comes across with the people he is around."

Majak also cares about getting his college degree. It was all part of the plan when he opted to leave home while still a teenager.

"I am the first child in my family to be in college so I am happy and I am doing it for them," Majak said. "I want to show them that I am doing it and I promise that I am going to finish school."

Being away from home does create some challenges but Majak has been made to feel at home during his time in the United States.

"It is not a big deal because as I get older, I feel like it is normal [to be here in the United States]," Majak said. "I take on the responsibility. talk to my family every day.

"The only thing that makes me stay is my family, they talk to me and tell me I need to focus on basketball and school and you are going to be OK. When I found the family that I live with now, they take care of me so I feel at home when I stay with them."

Majak was no stranger to the game of basketball before arriving in the United States. Dunks were not uncommon but they often were on rims shorter than the 10-foot one that is standard on basketball courts worldwide. It wasn't until he began practicing here in the U.S. that he considered dunks to be ones that truly counted.

"Back home the rims were [lower], the dunks I consider are when I came to America and the rims were a little bit taller," Majak said. "I remember it was a scrimmage and I dunked on somebody so a lot of people were getting hyped and happy about it. I didn't think it was a big deal, I thought I was just playing basketball."

Majak has the same feeling about the blocked shots. Some of his team-leading 35 blocked shots in the first nine games of the seasons are the type that will end up in New Haven's end of the year highlight package. He's had eight consecutive games with at least three blocked shots including an eight-block game against Saint Rose. That was also the first game in his collegiate career when he hit the double-digit mark in points scored. Majak made 5 of his 7 field-goal attempts and both of his free throws. He added 10 rebounds as he fell just short of a triple-double.

"I never look back at the blocks, we are just focused about winning," Majak said. "If I block more and we are winning, I think I am happy about it."

There has been a little bit of both blocked shots and wins for Majak and his teammates recently. The Chargers have won their last three games and will take a 6-3 record into their next game against Chestnut Hill on Dec. 19. The extra practice time will help Majak's teammates get him more involved offensively. Majak averaged 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 blocked shots in the last three games. 

"I think when you are a bigger player you are relying on other players to get him the ball," Hotaling said. "The guys have to get a little more used to playing with him with lob passes, pick and rolls and getting it to him at the rim. We have talked about that and have watched film on it. I think that is something that our guards will do better with as the year goes on but when you are a taller player, it is hard to get your own shot."

The New Haven coaches have also tweaked some things on the defensive end. Hotaling has worked with undersized posts during some of his most successful seasons with the Chargers. It is a little different having a 7-foot-1 player who leads all Division II players in blocked shots and is second at the Division II level with an average of 3.9 blocked shots per game.

"That has been an adjustment for our coaching staff as well to utilize him in the best way possible," Hotaling said. "We have changed some things that we traditionally do just based on the fact that he is 7-1 and has a really good ability and instincts for shot blocking. The biggest thing is he was well coached before we got him and that was the thing that stood out which is a credit to the people he has been around at the high school and college level. It is also a credit to him, I think he has picked things up along the way. That was the biggest thing that we didn't have to reteach him, he was well coached before we got him. We are still utilizing how to use him the best as well."

Majak had to wait to make his New Haven debut as COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020-21 basketball season at UNH. He was able to practice with his new teammates but not being able to play in games was not ideal.

"Last year was hard because we were practicing and then we tried to play but with COVID, we couldn't play," Majak said. "Last year was hard for everybody but this year we are ready for everything."