AU's Metress lands large class as portal brings recruiting chaos
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in chief
For the first time in his 20 years with Augusta University, Jaguar Coach Dip Metress is facing a roster change that is unprecedented.
Of the 14 players on the AU roster from last season, seven have departed, but only one, all-conference center Max Amadasun, graduated.
Among the biggest losses is Demitri Gardner, one of the nation's top 20 players at the Division II level last season who has now transferred to Fordham. Also leaving is standout guard John St. Germain III, headed to Holy Cross, as the trend continues to show a sign of how much influence the transfer portal has over college basketball. Amadasun in the pivot averaged a double-double per game.
“First time in 20 years I’ve lost anybody,” Metress said. “You wish them the best, and what’s best for them is best for us nowadays.”
Metress isn’t alone in dealing with roster changes.
“Every college and institution is dealing with it,” he said. “The way things were done five years ago is not the way it’s going to be done, and we’re going to adjust to it on the fly.”
Metress said North Georgia’s A.J. White is the only marquee coming back to his Peach Belt team for the 2025-26 season.
Despite the shakeup, the Jaguars brought in an intriguing group of new players who could make an impact immediately.
Leading the list is Daniel Daramola, a 6-foot-9 forward from Greenforest McCalep Christian Academy where he was the team captain, two-time state champion, and an honor roll student.
"He’s a great post player," said Metress, who must replace Amadasun, who was all-conference as a senior.
Daramola provides depth and low-post punch to the mix.
At point guard, Augusta adds Rodney Scott, a 5-foot-10 Baltimore, Md., standout. Scott has some top-level basketball ties as he earned First Team All-City in the Catholic League and is the best friend of New Orleans Pelicans’ 13th overall pick in this year's NBA draft, Derik Queen, who played collegiately at Maryland.
The second backcourt recruit is Camryn Pacheco, a 6-3 guard from Spotswood High School in Virginia. Pacheco was 3-A state player of the year in Virginia and brings scoring and leadership. He averaged 25 points per game as a senior.
Tobias Prall, a 6-2 guard transfer from Southeast Arkansas Community College, offers shooting and experience. Metress calls Prall "proven to make a shot" and with over 100,000 followers on TikTok, adds some social media appeal to the program as well.
From abroad, Charlie McBeath, 6-5 guard from Sydney, Australia, joins the Jaguars following semi-pro experience in the NBL-1 with the Bankstown Bruins. Metress describes McBeath as "a really hard playing guy who shoots the ball at a high clip."
Rounding out the class is Matias Zanotto, an international prospect from Argentina. At 16 years old, Zanotto moved to Italy to continue his professional career and has since played for Vanoli Basket Cremona in the Italian Serie A system. Averaging 14.5 points per game in the 2024–25 season playing with the club in competition in Serie D, he has shown high-level ability and maturity for a young player.
Metress had already landed North Augusta’s DaRon Dunbar during the season. Dunbar played on a highly successful North Augusta team that made it to South Carolina’s 4-A final before losing to Lancaster. Dunbar made all-state and was region player of the year.
The AU coach also said he still may add one more player to the mix.
These recruits will join top returnees in forward Evan Joyner, wing Elias Palsson, big forward Luis Nonfon, guard TJ Baker and post player Oliver Lucas.
With so many new faces, the coming season is bound to have a different feel and look. But if there's one thing that hasn't altered, it's the expectation that Augusta hoops will continue to be a power in the Peach Belt Conference, regardless of who's sporting the jersey.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at RBURGOSAVILA@augusta.edu.
AU men’s basketball recruit Daron Dunbar of North Augusta High School dunks the ball in the first half against South Aiken at North Augusta High School in a contest played on Jan. 9, 2025. Dunbar was an all-state selection in South Carolina and led his team to the 4-A state title game (photo special to the Bell Ringer by Mike Adams/Augusta Good News)
