East Carolina has finally landed the big one.

After months and months of heavy pursuit of a difference-making big man, the Pirates' long-standing relationship with 2019 7-foot center Charles Coleman paid off in a major way on Monday night when the Boston (Mass.) Dexter School product picked ECU.

Coleman, a former Wake Forest commitment, chose East Carolina over late offers from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Creighton, Duke, Georgia, Pittsburgh and others. Earlier in the process, Coleman was offered by Oklahoma, USF, Wake Forest and more.

Associate head coach Raphael Chillious and head coach Joe Dooley have been recruiting Coleman at ECU since their arrival in the spring of 2018. Chillious' recruitment of Coleman dates back to his days as an assistant at UConn, before his time at East Carolina. That long-standing relationship allowed the Pirates to beat out some serious contenders for Coleman's size and skill-set this week.

Coleman is the 11th commitment of the 2019 recruiting class for ECU, which is completely revamping its roster to compete in the star-studded American Athletic Conference.

"After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided to end my recruitment," Coleman wrote late Monday night. "I was both overwhelmed and thankful for the outpouring of interest and scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious universities and programs in the country after I re-opened my recruitment. However, I can only choose one school and basketball program to attend next year.

"Both my family and I are people who make serious life decisions based upon relationships and comfortability. I've built really strong relationships over the last four years but I feel most comfortable with the relationship I've built with Coach Dooley, Coach Chillious and the staff at East Carolina University."

Coleman originally visited ECU on Jan. 5 unofficially for its win over Cincinnati. The Massachusetts native also made a trip to Wake Forest a few days later. East Carolina appeared to have the inside track for Coleman's services, but the big man originally committed to Wake Forest on March 2, surprising many. Coleman didn't sign with the Demon Deacons as expected during the May signing period and eventually backed off the pledge, decommitting on May 13.

After he reopened his recruitment, Coleman's offer sheet blew up. Georgia and Connecticut offered on May 14. Duke and Pittsburgh offered on May 15. But his trust in Dooley, Chillious and ECU's staff won out in the end.

Along with playing for Dexter School, Coleman plays for WrightWay Skills on the AAU circuit. The 7-foot, 240-pounder has the ability to not only score in the paint and defend the post, but he can also step out and shoot from the perimeter.

Coleman is the third true big to join ECU's 2019 class. JUCO commits Ludgy Debaut (6-11) and Edra Luster (6-11) are also part of the class.

According to 247Sports, Coleman is rated three stars and ranked the 62nd-best center nationally. He's the fifth-best prospect in the state of Massachusetts.