AUGUSTA, GA- For the last two years, Maximillian Amadasun has played a large roll in the success of the men's basketball team. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, his presence on the inside can rival just about anyone. This year, Amadasun eclipsed the 500-rebound mark and now ranks in the top 25 all-time on the Jaguars' rebound list—and he's done it in just two seasons.

Originally from Ireland, Amadasun spent a year each at the University of Pittsburgh and St. Bonaventure University. Since stepping foot on campus in Augusta, he's fit right in and is taking full advantage of his role on the team, having improved from a year ago.

"He's more of a leader this year," said coach Dip Metress. "This year I think he realizes he's a really good player offensively and defensively and is playing with an unbridled passion for basketball." 

Amadasun's passion for basketball didn't start as early as you might think. He started with soccer and judo in Ireland -  judo since his father was a black belt and took Max with him to practice sessions. 
 

In Ireland, they start high school in seventh grade and that's when basketball started to become more of his life. He would play during his lunch breaks, and his friends started to push him towards the sport since he was taller than almost everyone else in school. It was about that time he also had a major growth spurt, which wasn't easy to deal with. 

"I shot up from about 6 feet 1 inch in seventh grade to about 6 feet 7 inches in one year so I was like I have to stick with basketball at this point," said Amadasun. "At first I didn't know what was going on, my body was filling out so fast. My knees were hurting, my growth pains were getting to me, and it felt unnatural at first. Just adjusting to this body of mine, it took time to get use to." 

He admits in high school he was a "deer in the headlights" trying to adjust to his growth spurt and initially struggled with the sport.

While he's a Kevin Durant fan, Amadasun said he probably models his game more after Al Jefferson, who used to play for the Charlotte Hornets, among other teams.

"I also look at a lot of mobile big men in the NBA right now, just those who are able to move on the perimeter and bang on the inside," said Amadasun. 


Coach Dip Metress noted that since Amadasun didn't really develop a strong basketball presence until arriving at Augusta, it shifted his mindset toward being more aggressive.

"He's got the ability to go get basketballs and he just gobbles them up, it's very strange. It's an innate science to go get the ball. I've never had anyone average 10 rebounds a game and he's going to do that two years in a row," said Metress. 

You wouldn't think of Amadasun as a three-point shooter, but that part of his game has come a long way as well. He spends a lot of time in the gym after practice getting shots up and it's showing on the stat sheet — he's hit 10 of 18 shots from three-point range this year.. It's just one more weapon he's put into his arsenal.  

Like many athletes, Amadasun has his superstitions and sticks to a specific routine.

"I like wearing sleeves, if I don't wear sleeves, I don't play the same. I always have the lucky wrist tape with a Bible verse on it, I always pray before games and those are the main routines I have," said Amadasun.  

It's been quite the journey to this point for Amadasun and said he would have never imagined where he is today 11 or 12 years ago. It's something he's very proud of. 
 

In a few months, he'll be graduating with a degree in computer science. But going into the workforce may take a back seat since he'd like to play pro basketball and playing overseas is a definite possibility. 

"He's going to have a very long, successful career overseas," said Metress. "People don't realize, when you have the European passport, you can play for a long time and I look forward to watching his career progress."