The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program just got a whole lot bigger—literally. First-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun announced Thursday that 6-foot-11, 247-pound forward Riley Allenspach has officially signed with the team for the 2026-27 season, bringing a potent mix of size, skill, and experience to the frontcourt.

Allenspach arrives from George Mason, where he turned heads this past season with averages of 13.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. His standout junior campaign earned him All-Atlantic 10 second team honors, and he ranked among the top 40 nationally in field goal percentage at 56.6%. In conference play, he elevated his game even further, posting 14.9 points per game while shooting a team-best 39.4% from beyond the arc. He also notched four double-doubles, including a season-high 26-point outburst against Old Dominion last December.

But Allenspach's journey to Cincinnati is anything but a straight line. The Charlotte native began his college career at Samford, spending two seasons there before transferring to George Mason for his junior year. Over 99 career games—35 of them starts—he's averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 56.4% from the field and 35.5% from three-point range.

Coach Calhoun couldn't hide his excitement about the new addition. "I love Riley's ability to connect our offense," he said. "He can play inside or outside and is just a high-IQ player. Riley has shown tremendous growth throughout his career and will bring significant versatility and toughness to the front line."

With one season of eligibility remaining, Allenspach is poised to make an immediate impact for the Bearcats—and for fans eager to see a big man who can stretch the floor, crash the boards, and bring a winning edge to the hardwood.