The Power flew the 198cm, 100kg, shooting-guard to Adelaide for a day of fitness testing back in August and were more than pleased with his results.
Bass, who had just returned from a four-year stint with Metro State University in Colorado, Denver, outran his would-be ruck coach with an impressive beep test score of 15.5.
“It made it easier having someone else to run with so I could pace myself,” Bass said in Adelaide on Thursday.
“I had no idea what I’d get. I just kept going and pushed myself.”
Unfortunately for the new Port Adelaide rookie, Primus’s name is about the only one he can remember from his whirlwind visit to Alberton.
Bass, who has never played a competitive game of Australian Rules, worked out with a handful of Power players during his stay.
But he admitted that four years in the US had restricted his knowledge of current-day Port Adelaide players and was unable to name any of his sparring partners.
Bass caught the attention of Power recruiting manger Blair Hartley back in March and said he had been working on his football skills ever since.
“I was deciding whether to come back to Australia and play [basketball] for an Australian team. I hadn’t really heard anything or been approached, so when Port approached me I thought it sounded like a good opportunity to keep playing professional sport,” Bass said.
“The club sent me an email asking if I’d play football when I came back from America. I’ve been having a kick three times a week [since then] and Blair’s been helping me out with that.”
Bass was an avid football fan growing up but said he was lured to basketball as a 10-year-old.
“I loved footy as a little kid. I’d take a footy to school and bounce it all the way there. I’d look forward to recess and having a kick with my mates,” he said.
“Somehow, I just got into basketball. I was taller than most of the other kids and basketball seemed the way to go.”
The club is hopeful Bass can follow in the footsteps of lead ruckman Dean Brogan.
Brogan played in an NBL championship with the Adelaide 36ers before making the switch to Australian Rules.
He spent a season with South Adelaide in the SANFL and was rookie-listed by the Power in 2001.
Bass said Brogan’s success had given him the belief he too could make the transition.
“Dean has talked to me and told me how he made the same transition when he was younger. He told me that he’ll take me under his wing, be my mentor and help me along the way,” he said.
“We’ll see how it goes, but I believe I can do alright with his help.”
