Javon Baumann is hard to miss.

The 6-foot-8 center from Solms-Oberbiel, Germany is one of the tallest players on the court each night, and whether defending the post or offering support from the bench, his presence is felt.

His height, however, isn't the only thing that separates him from his teammates. Baumann is the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete, and after just three-and-a-half years, he is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University.

But let's take it back to the beginning, when Baumann stepped onto campus as an undergraduate in 2012.

Baumann arrived on Hawk Hill and joined a frontcourt consisting of C.J. Aiken, Halil Kanacevic, and Ronald Roberts, Jr., all of whom went on to play professionally. Playing behind the power trio brought about the redshirting option for Baumann, and he used that first season to further his development.

In the classroom, however, he was just getting started.

“After we decided to redshirt my freshman year, Janet [Greder, Director of Educational Support Services] and I laid out the plan to graduate in three-and-a-half years,” Baumann said.

With a passion for cooking, an interest in art, and a drive for success, Baumann did just that, as he worked his way to earning his bachelor's degree in food marketing – and a minor in art – an entire semester early.

“All of the food marketing courses that I took were really interesting, and I learned something different in each class,” he Baumann, crediting the overall quality of both the food marketing program and professors for his success. “I have always done a lot of art, and I had the option to take some electives. I had enough time and it was possible to get an art minor, so I went for it.”

Time is a precious thing. Combine the challenging demands of college courses with the rigorous hours of the collegiate basketball schedule, and “enough time” seems unattainable. However, through a strict focus on time management, Baumann found a way to achieve his goal.

“It's just about getting things done,” he said. “It's looking at your schedule and saying, 'Alright, I have to do this for this week' and checking things off. I make lists, so I make my way through the list, top to bottom. I take advantage of opportunities and try to accomplish as much as possible. And there's a lot of help, from Janet, to the coaches, to the professors.”

Baumann will begin SJU's Master of Business Administration program this month, a program consistently ranked among the nation's top business programs by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and The Aspen Institute.

In an effort to fully appreciate all that the program has to offer, he will take his time deciding on a focus. And in doing so, Baumann will have another year-and-a-half on Hawk Hill, including another full season of eligibility to don the Crimson and Gray as a graduate student in 2016-17. For Baumann, it is surely a positive experience to have a fifth year with his teammates.

“We are a close team and have a very good chemistry,” said Baumann. “We're having a lot of fun.”

On the court, Baumann and his Hawks have reason to smile as Saint Joseph's is off to an 11-3 start, winning seven of its last eight games. Baumann has appeared in nine of SJU's 14 contests, including three of the last five.

Off the court, they're just as close. When asked what type of meal he would cook the team if he had everyone over for a Baumann dinner, he chuckled. “They like steaks and seafood, and they all like shrimp Alfredo pasta, so I'd make that,” he said. “We used to have cookouts with the team when Langston [Galloway '14] and Chris [Wilson '15] were here. They used to make the fish, and I would make the pasta.”

Most recently, Baumann cooked Christmas dinner and called upon his German heritage for the meal, putting together a smorgasbord of German dumplings (a potato-based delicacy), lamb (inspired by the way his grandmother would always cook a “big piece of meat”), vegetables (including a mix of peas and onions), and a baked apple dessert filled with marzipan, vanilla ice cream, and nuts.

The meal sounds good enough to be in a restaurant – maybe in his own one day?

“That would be awesome,” Baumann said with a smile. “I'm really interested in restaurants and the food industry. I'd like to go into gastronomy. I grew up around a family business, so I understand the business side, too."

The doors are there and open for Baumann; it's just a matter of figuring out which one to walk through.

“I don't have a clear idea of where I'm going to end up,” he said. “Do I want to play basketball or do I want to use my degree? I have options. I am going to find an internship for this summer, and hopefully that internship will help me make my decision.”

Already a college graduate, Baumann is on track to leave Hawk Hill with two degrees and a collegiate basketball career under his belt in May 2017. Mix in his unwavering desire for success and resilient work ethic, and you have a young adult ready to capitalize on his opportunities.

“I'm open for anything,” he added. “I love to travel. I've traveled a lot all over the world, and I could see myself anywhere.”

Look out, world.

Javon Baumann will be hard to miss.