Adelaide 36ers secure promising Australian centre despite AFL interest
South Australian centre Ben Griscti has revealed why he knocked back advances from AFL clubs to sign a multi-year deal with the 36ers. Find out why inside.
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The lure of playing for his hometown Adelaide 36ers was the main incentive for rising South Australian centre Ben Griscti to knock back advances from AFL clubs and sign a multi-year deal with the 36ers.
Griscti, who stands at 6’11, joins the 36ers after spending the past three years in the NCAA college system in America.
The 21-year-old played last season at UC Riverside Highlanders after transferring from University of the Incarnate Word Athletics.
Griscti – who had offers from AFL clubs before opting to pen an NBL deal – said a professional basketball career was always his first option.
“I gave footy up when I was about 15, when basketball became serious, I had some great mentors in basketball telling me what I could do in the college scene, so I went down that route,” Griscti said.
“When footy came back, I addressed it, but I knew basketball was going to be the long-term option for me.
“I love football, and I am Australian as anyone else, but this was the dream since I sat up there in those last rows, to come out here and play for the 36ers.”
During the 2023-24 NCAA season, Griscti started 19 of 33 games at centre, averaging 7.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Highlanders, while connecting on 38 per cent of his shots from beyond the three-point line.
The Sturt Sabres junior said the lure to return to South Australia was too good to refuse and he can’t wait to begin his professional career in his home town.
“It feels great to be home and knowing I’m going to be here for the next three years in Adelaide,” he said.
“To be coming home is a surreal feeling and I can’t wait to get started.”
Adelaide coach Scott Ninnis has kept in close contact with Griscti after he impressed at last year’s inaugural 36ers Development Player Camp.
“Ben is a great prospect for the club and it’s important we have lured another local kid back home to the 36ers,” Ninnis said.
“I’m excited to see Ben grow with his skillset across NBL25, especially going against a marquee big man in Isaac Humphries every day on the training court.”
Adelaide 36ers GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston said the signing of Griscti is not only looking at NBL25, but future seasons.
“This signing was really important for us, we see Ben as a big piece for the club moving forward,” Weston said.
“Ben is 211cm, is strong at both ends of the floor, but also has the ability to step out and knock down the three, which is what all teams require now from that position.”
Griscti joins DJ Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries, Jason Cadee, Nick Marshall, Sunday Dech, Alex Starling, Lat Mayen and Jacob Rigoni as contracted players for the NBL25 season.
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