It’s always nice to add a new player in the middle of the season. It’s even better when that player is a 7-foot-1 center with “a nice shot.”

That’s the fortunate situation Maryland finds itself in. Alex Len, a 7-1 big man who’s missed the team’s first 10 games due to eligibility issues (he’d previously signed with an international club team), will make his debut when the Terrapins face Albany tonight. So far, the Ukrainian’s only claim to fame has been this dunk during Maryland Madness (it’s the first play in the video).

But he’s not some sideshow, according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun:

Len "can shoot the ball, can dribble it, can pass it," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Tuesday. "For his size, he's very skilled."

Len may not start for the Terps immediately. But he is expected to be a starter soon.

In fact, Turgeon said he may eventually run the offense through Len and sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin, giving the Terps a high-low presence. Ashton Pankey is expected to move from center to power forward once Len is established in the lineup.

Len's return — along with that of point guard Pe'Shon Howard — gives the Terps (7-3) the depth and inside presence to play the aggressive defense that Turgeon covets.

The Terrapins are 7-3 right now. They have the league’s No. 9 scoring offense (67.4 points per game). So Len could certainly add a boost offensively. But in a conference that features John Henson, Tyler Zeller, the Plumlee boys and other big bodies, Len’s length might be more valuable defensively.

We’ve already witnessed multiple successful midseason additions. Oregon is 5-1 since Devoe Joseph (14.3 points per game), a combo guard who left Minnesota in January, joined the team Dec. 10. BYU’s Matt Carlino, a transfer from UCLA, has averaged 17.3 points in his first four games with that team. Baylor’s Perry Jones is averaging 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game after missing the team’s first six games due to an NCAA suspension.

Len, apparently, has the same potential to become a major difference-maker for a Maryland squad that already has the ACC’s top scorer in Terrell Stoglin. It’ll be interesting to see if he justifies the buzz.