Mount Union men's basketball player Shaun Vaden, a junior from Cleveland, Ohio, attended Cornerstone Christian High School and his journey to Alliance, Ohio, is both special and intriguing. This season, he has made a significant impact for the Purple Raiders, coming off the bench and establishing himself as one of the most dominant shot blockers and rim runners in the conference. 
  
Growing up, Vaden didn't start playing basketball until the seventh grade. It wasn't always his first choice of sport, and he didn't take it seriously until his senior year of high school. He was always a fan of the sport, as his family are big fans of the Cavaliers and LeBron James. To this day, he remains a dedicated supporter of James. 
  
"I didn't play basketball much growing up, but I was always a fan of the game," Vaden said. "My family were huge Cavaliers fans—really more LeBron fans—and that's what sparked my interest. I started playing basketball mainly in the seventh grade when I went to Cornerstone, but basketball wasn't always my first choice. I played soccer for about four years, swam a little, and my mom even tried to get me into flag football. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I really began to take basketball seriously." 
  
Vaden did not play college basketball during his first year at Mount Union. He joined the team in his sophomore year. During that season, he appeared in 15 games, scoring 30 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and recording 13 blocks. Going to college was not his first choice, but he knew he wanted to play college basketball if he did attend. Vaden refers to the people who encouraged him as "people pushers," and his pastor was a significant influence in his decision. Out of high school, he was not heavily recruited, though he did receive interest from Bethany College in West Virginia and a school in Atlanta, Georgia. However, he wanted to stay close to home.  
  
"Going to college wasn't my first choice, but I knew that if I did go, I wasn't going to leave without at least trying to play basketball," Vaden said. "I wanted to experience what that was like. What really led to my decision was having a village around me—my family, friends, and pastor—who pushed me toward my purpose. I call them 'purpose pushers,' people who can see farther than you and believe you can excel and be a light in that space. 
  
"I wasn't recruited heavily out of high school. Bethany College in West Virginia showed interest, and there was another school in Atlanta, but I didn't want to go far from Cleveland. I wasn't eager to go to college in the first place, and I definitely wasn't leaving home to do it." 
  
Vaden's journey to becoming the person and athlete he is today has been influenced by many people, but he gives all the glory to God. His Christian faith is something he holds dear, and he often speaks about the impact Jesus Christ has had on his life. Vaden's family has played a significant role in shaping who he is, and he values surrounding himself with wise individuals, believing that being around the wise helps one become wise as well. 
  
Vaden's cousin motivated him to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. They would wake up early in the mornings, regardless of the cold, to practice free throws and jump shots. As he continued to grow, he also had to learn to play basketball while adjusting to his height, which now stands at 6'9". 
  
"A lot of people have had a hand in my growth and development, but first and foremost, it's God," Vaden said. "He's everything to me, and He's what keeps me going. There are days when I ask myself, 'Why am I here? Why am I in college? Why can't I just be normal?' Not just as an athlete, but academically too. Jesus Christ is number one in my life, and I can't even talk enough about what He means to me. 
  
"So many people—especially my family—have had a huge part in my growth and development. Family, friends, and a lot of people I've been able to sit under during different seasons of my life have really poured into me. I'm a big believer that if you sit under the wise, you become wise, so I try to stay around people who have wisdom, people who have been around and seen a lot. It opens your eyes and makes you think, 'Okay, I remember them telling me not to do stuff like that.' So yeah, probably all of that. 
  
"As an athlete, my family was just as important. I have cousins who are athletes, and one of them really pushed me when I told him I wanted to make it to the NBA. He would come to my house early in the mornings—sometimes in the cold—and we'd run, shoot free throws, work on jump shots, and finish through contact. I wasn't always tall, so I had to learn how to play basketball as I grew into my height. All of that, along with my love for watching the game and studying it, helped shape me into the player I am today." 
  
A special shoutout to LeBron James: 4x MVP, 4x Champ, 21x All-Star, and the All-Time Scoring Leader.  
  
"I'm a huge LeBron fan—I love LeBron," said Vaden.  "If you see this, please come to Mount. But yeah, watching basketball, loving the game, and studying it really pulled me in. I'm a stats guy, so all of that made me want to keep learning and getting better." 
  
The team is off to the best start in program history with an impressive 11-0 overall record and a 4-0 record in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The players have great chemistry, and it is their camaraderie that makes this team truly special. Vaden highlights that the brotherhood is a key reason for the team's early success. 
  
"One of the key reasons for our success is our camaraderie," said Vaden. "Once you have a team that's close and tight-knit, you give yourself a chance to do some great things. When you have that kind of chemistry, you're able to communicate with each other more freely—like, 'Hey man, what you're doing isn't right on the court.' 
  
"That communication comes from unity and brotherhood. When there's real brotherhood, everything you say comes from a place of love, not from being malicious. When I say something, it's because I want to win, and because if we keep doing certain things, we're going to lose. 
  
"Our chemistry and our love for the game are huge for us. We all love to compete. Even during the week, we'll come in and play King of the Court or just go up and down because we love playing basketball. I think that's a big reason for our success." 
  
Vaden's coaches and teammates at Mount Union have significantly contributed to his development as a player on the court. When Vaden first stepped onto the court at Mount Union, it felt like learning a new language of basketball. He had to grasp the game at a higher level and was essentially taught how to play basketball again. The support from his teammates, who pushed him to improve, has also been instrumental in helping him reach his current level of success. 
  
"When I first got here, I was horrible. I was pretty bad at basketball," Vaden said. "Coming from high school, I didn't play a lot of organized basketball because I didn't really want to. I just wanted to hoop. 
  
"Once you get to college, the coaches really teach you how to play basketball again. They teach you the X's and O's, how things are done at this level, and how to play defense the right way. It's a lot of relearning the game at a higher level. The higher you go in anything, you have to learn the language, and I had to learn the language of college basketball. 
  
"The coaches pinpointed something that I'm good at and have been great at cultivating it, and that helped my confidence. My teammates always push me to dunk on somebody, to block shots, to go get every shot. When you have coaches and teammates telling you to go do those things, it really builds your confidence." 
  
Vaden has already created many core memories as a Mount Union Purple Raider, and his favorite moments are the team road trips. One that stands out specifically is their trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, last year, where they had the opportunity to get to know each other better and bond. He really cherishes those team bonding experiences. 
  
"My favorite memories are probably any of our road trips," said Vaden. "Last season we went to Las Vegas, and that was really cool to experience with my teammates—especially with some of the freshmen who had never been there before. Just being in that space together, bonding and getting to know each other, made it special. 
  
"Any away game where we're traveling for a long time stands out. We had one trip to New York that was about four hours away, and being 6'9", that wasn't fun," he said with a laugh. "But those are the kinds of things you remember and carry with you. They help build you as a person, and those are some of my favorite memories." 
  
Vaden has aspirations for the future regarding his own studio company called 'Studio 7.' It is a media production company that helps people learn about media production and how it can benefit their businesses. He also creates content, including short films and entertaining vlogs. Vaden dreams of having his company located in a building where he can serve as a resource for others. As for basketball, he follows wherever the Lord leads him in the game, trusting in the Lord's plan for his life. 
  
"Some of my goals and aspirations are with my studio company, Studio 7," Vaden said. "It's a media production company that helps people learn about media production and how adding audio and visuals can help their business. I also create content there—short films, short clips, and fun vlogs—showing my height and the daily struggles of being a seven-footer. Media is really my passion. I love media, and I've been doing it for about nine years now. 
  
"I'm helping other companies, businesses, and institutions kickstart their media journey, and I'd love to put my company in an actual building and be a resource for other people. As far as basketball goes, wherever the Lord takes me. I have two more years to play, and if He wants to take me farther, I'll go. I trust Him with my life, and I trust that He has a good plan for me." 
  
Shaun Vaden is more than just a talented basketball player—he is a kind and genuine person who treats everyone with respect. His work ethic and desire to be great go beyond the court, showing in everything he does. With a bright future ahead, Vaden is set to make an impact both in basketball and in media, using his many talents and strong determination to succeed.