INTERVIEW/TPBL top pick Adam Hinton ready to cook in Taiwan

By Chao Yen-hsiang, CNA staff reporter

When Adam Hinton and his younger brother Robert returned to Taiwan to play in their first William Jones Cup in 2023, they said in unison that they did not want to leave their "second home."

Adam Hinton is now coming back for considerably longer after the Kaohsiung Aquas selected him first overall in the 2026 Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) draft in Taipei on Thursday.

"The Aquas gave me all the confidence I needed to start my career here," the Cornell University graduate told CNA on Friday in his first interview since Thursday's draft.

Born to a Taiwanese mother and an African-American father, Hinton has maintained close ties with Taiwan through family visits, basketball, and appearances for the national team.

Despite that longstanding connection, however, beginning his professional career in Taiwan only became a concrete possibility this year.

From 'second home' to home court

Hinton, who turned 23 on July 9, had concentrated on completing his final NCAA season at Cornell and did not begin discussing his professional future until it ended.

It was then that Aquas General Manager Wilson Lee (李偉誠) broached the idea of playing in Taiwan, and Hinton said the Aquas' family atmosphere and record of retaining players they drafted helped convince him to join the team.

"I can see that he [Lee] really takes care of everybody," Hinton said.

The move builds on a basketball connection with Taiwan that began years earlier.

The Hinton brothers drew attention at the 2023 Jones Cup while playing for Taiwan's second-string national team, combining for 30 of the team's 59 points against NCAA Division I program UC Irvine.

Hinton later represented Taiwan along with his brother at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, where he played alongside Aquas veteran Hu Lung-mao (胡瓏貿).

Standing 194 centimeters tall and weighing 100 kilograms, he has a notably large frame for a guard in Taiwan.

Hinton will also be classified as a local player under TPBL rules because he holds a Republic of China passport, which he obtained before turning 16.

Basketball commentator Ku Yen-wei (古硯偉), who helped bring the siblings' Taiwanese connection to wider attention in 2018, described Hinton as "a pioneer of the new generation of mixed-heritage players."

Ku said Hinton stands apart from earlier Taiwanese-American players because he was born and raised in the United States, entered a Taiwanese professional league through its draft, and established himself as a regular contributor at an NCAA Division I program.

In his final season at Cornell, Hinton averaged 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.

Family and the 'hidden hero'

Asked who had exerted the greatest influence on his basketball career, Hinton said his family, recalling his parents rushing from work or taking a train simply to attend his practices.

"My parents have been there for me every step of the way," Hinton said. "I don't take that for granted."

During his first two years at Cornell, when playing opportunities were limited, his family encouraged him to remain resilient.

"If there's something you want, then find a way to make it happen," he said.

Hinton also credited Robert with giving him someone close to compete with and develop alongside.

That bond is reflected in Hinton's fascination with Itachi Uchiha from Masashi Kishimoto's manga series "Naruto." Hinton views Itachi, initially portrayed as a villain, as a "hidden hero" who quietly protects his younger brother.

"He always protected his younger brother, even though his younger brother couldn't even see it sometimes," Hinton said.

He also admires how the character works without immediate recognition.

"Not all your work has to be seen by everybody," Hinton said. "You can just sometimes put your head down and work, and one day everybody will realize the work you put in."

His primary basketball idol, meanwhile, is Kobe Bryant, whose mentality, work ethic and determination to improve he admires.

Those are also the qualities he wants Taiwanese fans to see.

"Just my determination, I guess, just to show all the hard work that I've put in," he said.

Game ready

Having spent years away from his family at preparatory school and Cornell, Hinton does not view moving to Taiwan as a daunting change.

As for adjusting to everyday life, he has few concerns.

A fan of Taiwanese sticky rice rolls known as fan tuan, preserved eggs and pork congee, and chicken hearts, Hinton hopes to find regular places for his favorite Taiwanese foods.

He also plans to improve his Chinese and hopes to speak with fans and reporters in Chinese by the end of 2027.

Away from basketball, Hinton enjoys cooking, ceramics, sketching and art. His best dish, he said, is Chinese sausage over rice with spinach and egg prepared in a rice cooker.

Hinton has extra motivation to win a championship in his first TPBL season: Lee, a former rapper, has promised to perform if the Aquas take the title. The challenge is considerable, as the Aquas finished last in the seven-team TPBL in 2025-26 with a 9-27 record.

"He said that he would rap if we won in my first year," Hinton said. "So that's the goal."

Slated to begin training with the Aquas on Aug. 1, Hinton did not hesitate when asked whether "Chef Hinton" was ready to cook on the court.

"Yeah."

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