Grant Basile, the 26-year-old Italian-American forward, has officially signed with the Kaohsiung Aquas of Taiwan's TPBL, the club announced via social media on Wednesday.
The 206cm big man joins the Kaohsiung-based franchise after a season split between Italy's Lega Basket Serie A with Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù and the Puerto Rican side Piratas de Quebradillas. Basile becomes the second signing from Italian basketball for the Aquas following the appointment of Nick Schlitzer as Player Development Coach, who previously served in the same role at Pallacanestro Trieste.
Basile's move to Asia brings an end to his two-year stint in Italy. After helping Cantù earn promotion to Serie A during the 2024-25 season — where he averaged over 18 points in the playoffs and poured in 24 points in the decisive promotion-clinching game against Rimini — the forward went on to feature in the top flight during the 2025-26 campaign. His minutes were more limited in the LBA, where he posted 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game.
Following the conclusion of the Italian season, Basile joined Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico's BSN league. Across 11 appearances for the island franchise, he flourished, averaging 17.1 points in 29.8 minutes while shooting an efficient 66.7 percent from two-point range and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc, along with 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.
A dual citizen through his Italian ancestry, Basile has also represented the Azzurri at senior level, featuring in the EuroBasket qualifying campaign in 2025. The Kaohsiung Aquas' official announcement highlighted his international experience and versatility, describing him as a player capable of stretching the floor with his perimeter shooting while providing a strong defensive presence.
"I will do whatever it takes to win," Basile said in the club's statement, expressing his willingness to contribute across both ends of the floor regardless of the role assigned to him.
The move marks the latest chapter in a career that has taken Basile from college basketball at Wright State — where he was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 — through the Italian ranks and now to Asia via Puerto Rico. His combination of size, shooting touch, and European experience makes him an intriguing addition for the Aquas as they prepare for the upcoming TPBL season.
Sources
- https://www.pianetabasket.com/mercato/grant-basile-a-taiwan-ufficiale-la-firma-con-i-kaohsiung-aquas
- https://www.basketinside.com/europe-basketball/mercato-europe-basketball/grant-basile-kaohsiung-aquas-taiwan/
