From Dublin to the pros: Amadasun’s journey from AU to the next level
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in chief
Dublin, Ireland, native Maximillian “Max” Amadasun, a slender 6-foot-9 forward for Augusta University the last two seasons, has taken his basketball career to the next level.
He signed his first pro contract with Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa Baloncesto, competing in Spain’s Segunda FEB. The team is based in Leon, Spain.
The move is the reward for years of dedication, hard work and perseverance.
Amadasun’s path to the professional level was far from conventional. Having grown up in Ireland, where he played a variety of sports, including judo, soccer and Gaelic football, a middle school growth spurt prompted a shift in interest to basketball. He moved to New York to play for Our Saviour Lutheran High School at age 16. From there, he played at the University of Pittsburgh and St. Bonaventure before transferring to Augusta University, a step that would turn out to be a game changer.
Augusta Coach Dip Metress noticed something unique about his work ethic immediately.
“Max put his head down and just worked on his game in a very systematic way,” Metress said. “He always spent time after practice and improved every day. Very excited for Max.”
As a senior with the Jaguars, Amadasun wreaked havoc on the Peach Belt Conference. He played in all 29 games, averaging 16.5 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game, which ranked 11th in the nation in rebounding. He recorded 15 double-doubles, which ranked fifth most in the country, and was the first player in program history with 300 rebounds in a season. In two years at Augusta, he amassed 604 rebounds, which ranks as one of the top 25 rebounders in school history.
Some of the key moments from his senior season included 31 points against Chowan, 30 points against Emmanuel and 18 rebounds against USC Beaufort. He also recorded a five-block game against North Georgia. In December, he was recognized as Peach Belt Player of the Week after averaging 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds and an outstanding 66.2 percent field goal percentage.
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa Baloncesto may be a relatively new team, with it being founded in 2022 through a merger of two local clubs, but they are already making strides. The team plays in Spain’s Segunda, Spain’s fourth-tier league, and competes at the Palacio de los Deportes de León, with a capacity of around 5,188.
The team was established as a part of an initiative backed by Felipe Lamazares and Aspire Academy with the goal of uniting León’s basketball scene under one banner and building a pathway to higher divisions. After earning promotion from Liga EBA in the 2023-24 season, they now aim to establish themselves at this new level.
Off the court, Amadasun balanced basketball with computer science studies, preparing for life after basketball. For now though, his focus shifts to this new chapter, one that will see him represent AU and Ireland on the professional stage.
His story is one of persistence: from Dublin’s gyms to U.S college courts, to the pros. And as Coach Metress put it, “only a small percentage of basketball players get this opportunity,” a percentage that Max Amadasun now proudly belongs to.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu..
Center Max Amadasun averaged 16.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during an all-conference senior season. He now takes his post skills to play professionally in Spain. (Bell Ringer file photos)
