Zach Brown (right) battles Randall Ferdinand from Flanagan for a rebound during a game last season when Brown played at Miami Beach.

Zach Brown, a 7-foot five-star center from Miami (Fla.) Senior, committed to Connecticut on Wednesday. The news was first reported by ESPN.com’s Reggie Rankin.

The decision comes after Brown made a second unofficial visit to campus on Tuesday.

Brown’s guard Michael Lippman told Rivals.com: “Zach is so excited with the family and brotherhood of the UConn team, staff and fans. He loves the incoming recruiting class and the chance to compete for a national championship.”

The left-handed Brown is ranked No. 25 in the ESPN 60 rankings that were released Wednesday morning. He is ranked No. 17 in the class by Rivals.com. He has slipped some in the national rankings but remains among the elite big mane available in a class that is led by another big man, Phoenix Hillcrest Prep’s DeAndre Ayton.

He gives UConn a big body to help protect the rim. While his offensive game continues to develop and is sometimes prone to foul trouble, Brown still has another high school season to develop.

His commitment continues a strong run on the recruiting trail for UConn coach Kevin Ollie, whose 2016 class includes four four-star players. Among that group is Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) All-American Alterique Gilbert, with whom Brown was a teammate during the Nike Global Games.

Last winter, USA TODAY High School Sports chronicled Brown’s journey from poverty in Liberty City to his new life with the Lippman family in South Beach. Brown has since transferred from Miami Beach to Miami Senior. You can read that story by clicking here.