Grant Basile is at a crossroads, but he might change his mind
VL Pesaro continues to closely monitor Grant Basile’s situation, although the center, born in 2000, does not seem particularly keen on playing in Serie A2. There have also reportedly been some inquiries about the player from Brindisi, where he would be reunited with Coach Brienza, but at the moment, the player’s priority is to remain in the top division or, alternatively, to consider playing abroad if no concrete offers come in from Serie A. However, a change of heart is also possible.
Basile is coming off a season with Pallacanestro Cantù, where he averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in about 16 minutes of playing time per game. Released by the Brianza-based club—which is undergoing a major roster overhaul—the American big man with an Italian passport is currently playing in the Puerto Rican league with the Piratas de Quebradillas, where he is averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his first 13 appearances.
Basile’s journey in Italy has deep roots and a trajectory of steady growth. After developing his basketball skills at Wright State University, the Pewaukee, Wisconsin, native signed a multi-year contract with Tortona before being loaned to Pistoia, where he made his Serie A debut under the guidance of coach Nicola Brienza. Subsequently, another loan stint at Orzinuovi cemented his status as a star, with standout numbers: 20.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. That season earned him a call-up from Cantù, where he led the Brianza-based team to promotion to Serie A with an average of 18.1 points in the playoffs, earning him the title of MVP of the Finals.
His bond with Cantù was sealed in the summer of 2025 with a contract extension through the end of the 2026–27 season, which came amid the excitement surrounding the promotion. Brienza also expressed great satisfaction at the time: “I’m thrilled that our journey with Basile continues. We’re retaining a key player from last season, who will be instrumental in Serie A as well. We’ve embarked on an important technical and tactical journey together, and the chance to continue this journey together makes us happy.” The season in the top flight also gave Basile a moment that has entered the collective memory: on December 28, 2025, during an away game in Naples, his spectacular dunk literally bent the rim, causing the game to be suspended for nearly an hour and making headlines across Italy.
The player’s growth did not go unnoticed at the national team level either: in February 2026, Basile was called up by head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco for the Italian national team’s qualifying matches against Turkey and Hungary, making the list of sixteen players available to the national team staff. This is a significant recognition for a player who has chosen to fully embrace the Italian basketball project.
In addition to Pesaro and Brindisi, Basile’s name had also been linked in recent weeks to Fortitudo Bologna and Sassari, confirming the widespread interest in a player considered a top prospect for the second division. Meanwhile, VL Pesaro is active on multiple fronts in the frontcourt: according to reports in *Il Resto del Carlino*, Filippo Baldi Rossi—a veteran born in 1991 fresh off a promotion to Serie A with Scaligera Verona, where he finished the season averaging 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
