Top TPBL Draft Pick Adam Hinton Targets Championship with Kaohsiung Aquas

Taipei: Taiwanese-American guard Adam Hinton expressed his ambition to lead the Kaohsiung Aquas to a championship after being chosen as the first overall pick in the 2026 Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) Draft. According to Focus Taiwan, the 23-year-old Cornell University graduate aims for the top prize in the league. Hinton, who secured his Republic of China (Taiwan) identification card before turning 16, will play as a local under TPBL regulations. Known for his height of 194 centimeters and weight of 100 kilograms, Hinton was the anticipated No. 1 pick following his decision to enter the draft. Hinton praised the Aquas as a "championship-level program," highlighting their intensity and style of play as key factors in his decision. He noted the team's hard, fast, and gritty style, expressing excitement to join and contribute to maintaining their competitive edge. The guard was particularly impressed by the Aquas' family-like environment, which solidified his decision to join Kaohsiung after v isiting the team. Hinton plans to learn from the team's veterans while bringing energy and defense to the court. He emphasized that his focus is not on individual accolades in his rookie season, stating that while individual awards would be appreciated, they are not his primary goal. Despite expectations of being the top draft choice, Hinton admitted to feeling nervous moments before the Aquas announced their selection, describing his heart racing and mind going blank during the anticipation. Hinton gained significant attention in Taiwan after playing alongside his brother Robert for Taiwan's second-string national team at the 2023 William Jones Cup. The brothers, sons of a Taiwanese mother and an African-American father, consider Taiwan their "second home." Hinton later represented Taiwan at the FIBA Asia Cup, playing with Aquas veteran Hu Lung-mao, whom he describes as an intelligent player and looks forward to reuniting with. Following Hinton's selection, the Taipei Taishin Mars picked Wu Chih-kai as th e second pick, with Kuo Chia-an going third to the New Taipei CTBC DEA. Out of the 28 players in the draft, eight were selected. Wu was also chosen by the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots with the fourth pick in the P.LEAGUE+ draft in June, leaving him with a decision on which team to join.