The Valparaiso University men's basketball family just got bigger.
 
7-foot center Kai Yu (Zhuhai, Guangdong, China / Link Prep [Liberty / Bradley]) has joined head coach Roger Powell Jr.'s program for the 2026-2027 season.
 
"Kai is someone who is really excited about Valpo," Powell said. "He values me and my coaching style, which is part of the reason we got him. He has great size and versatility along with a feel for the game. He also has the ability to stretch the floor and will add more size and skill to our front court. I'm excited to sign our first 7-footer since I've been here."
 
Yu played against Valpo four times in the last two seasons, first when he made his collegiate debut against the Beacons while playing for Liberty in the season-opening Total Athlete Tipoff on Nov. 4, 2024 in Xenia, Ohio. He then took part in all three Valpo/Bradley matchups as a member of the Braves in 2025-26, including the double overtime thriller in the quarterfinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis.
 
"We played Valpo three times this past season, so I think Coach Powell really knows me," Yu said. "Coach Powell is a cool guy. The most important thing to me is that he is a Christian who believes in Jesus. I try to find a coach who is a Christian so I can build my faith. The campus is beautiful. The students are nice. I really like it at Valpo."
 
After moving to the United States from his native China to play at Link Year Prep – the same school that has produced Valpo standouts Cooper Schwieger and All Wright – Yu spent two years at Liberty University, where he redshirted in 2023-24 before playing in 15 games in 2024-25.
 
Yu brings postseason experience to Valpo's roster as he played in the 2025 NCAA Tournament against Oregon while playing for the Flames before playing against Dayton in the NIT while playing for the Braves in 2026.
 
"My favorite memories of basketball are playing in March Madness and in the NIT," Yu said. "Those were big moments for me."
 
Yu appeared in 29 of Bradley's 34 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2025-26, averaging 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor. He scored 12 points in a road win at Drake on Jan. 31 and had a season-high seven rebounds on Feb. 3 at Valpo.
 
"I think I do my job well, and my job is whatever the coach wants me to do on the court," Yu said. "Even when I don't get a chance to finish the ball, I try to play defense and rebound."
 
The opportunity to play basketball in the United States at a place like Valpo is a dream come true for Yu, who started playing at age 12.
 
"In high school, my coach always watched NCAA D1 basketball," Yu said. "I thought if I could play NCAA D1, that would be amazing. When I was done with high school, I came to America, and I started getting offers after my year of prep school. At first, I could speak zero English and couldn't understand the culture. Everything was new for me, but I am getting better."
 
Yu, who plans to study communications, enjoys watching TV shows and movies in his spare time. He is a Marvel fan, and Avengers is his favorite. Yu has a twin brother Sean, who played basketball at Newman University in Kansas and is now playing professionally in China for the Shanghai Sharks.
 
"I am excited to play at Valpo because I played against them three times this past year, so I feel like I know them already," Yu said. "The amazing thing is that almost everyone is coming back. We have a good chance to be a good team and have a nice team culture. Summer is important for me; I have a lot to work on and look forward to getting to work."