SPANISH FORT – Max Ped'a Bubalo signed with Enterprise State last week to play basketball for the Boll Weevils and head coach Wesley Person.

"He's a guy who can come in and make a three-point shot and make adjustments," Person said. "But the most important thing is his work ethic. Getting a great student is very important. I want good people with good character in my program that will represent Enterprise State well. He's a smart player who can come in and run the team or get the team to settle down."

Born in Mostar, Bosnia (former Yugoslavia), Max Ped'a Bubalo might be the ultimate transfer student. He had not played basketball until moving to the U.S. when his dad introduced the game to Max.

"I moved here when I was six years old" Bubalo said. "Before that it was strickly soccer coming from Europe. But I fell in love with it right away and I knew that's what I wanted to focus on."

SFHS coach Ernest Hill said he was happy for Bubalo but would miss him next season. "Enterprise State is getting a great guy, a family guy, a school guy, a fine person and a quality basketball player. I'm going to miss Max, Spanish Fort is going to miss him. But I'm happy that he has this opportunity to go to the next level," Hill said.

Bubalo, 6-2, averaged 15.5 points per game his senior year, 15.3 over four years and had 1,286 career points and holds the school record for game-high scoring with 35.

He said he was impressed with coach Person and helping the former NBA star build his first recruiting class as a coach.

"I really like coach Person, really like his program and he has a good basketball background. It felt like home up there and they treated me like family. I like  the town of Enterprise, it seems like a nice community and I hope I can help out the team. I think I can, shooting-wise."

Although Bubalo gave up soccer, he returned to the "futbol" field last fall to help the football Toros with their kicking game punting and place kicking.

"Football was fun," he said. "I enjoyed it a lot."

The son of Alma and Bragan Bubalo and brother of sister Mia, he is undecided on a major.