July 11th, 2025 — New York, NY — On Friday, June 27, the 2025 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship concluded with a buzzer-beater shot, securing the win for Oscar Keily (The Huddle) and Kingston Taylor (Trail Blazers Math Hoops, presented by First Tech Credit Union) over Camdyn Siden (Warriors Math Hoops) and Samuel Escobar (Kings Math Hoops, presented by NBC Sports & Telemundo).
Co-hosted with NBA Cares, this third annual Global Championship brought together 24 students from across the U.S. and Australia, representing 16 NBA and WNBA markets, for three unforgettable days of competition, learning, and fun.
The Global Championship kicked off on Tuesday, June 24, with a welcome dinner for students, families, and educators. Students were paired with their partners and collaborated on creating their team names for the upcoming tournament.
Students tipped off the tournament the very next day at the Jackie Robinson Museum in Lower Manhattan. There, they drafted their teams, toured the museum, and completed a scavenger hunt before diving into the opening rounds of gameplay. Each student played three round-robin games to determine seeding for the finals.
Later that day, students traveled to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2025 NBA Draft for an exclusive red carpet experience. On the red carpet, they met draftees, collected signatures, and took selfies—including one with Jake from State Farm. They then headed to the stadium floor, where they participated in the cheer tunnel, hyping up the incoming draftees as they headed up to the stage. Students rejoined their families in the stands to witness the night's selections, kick off a new era of the NBA.
On Thursday, Math Hoopers visited the Parsons School of Design for the 2025 Games for Change Festival, Designing for Tomorrow. Families and students explored an arcade of purpose-driven games. Students had the chance to hear from one of the game designers, where they learned about the process of creating games, from concept to code, and the STEM skills used throughout.
Later, they traveled to John Jay College of Criminal Justice for lunch and a recognition ceremony. Each student received a special gift from their home Math NBA Hoops program to cheer them on ahead of Friday’s finals.
After lunch, students hit the courts in a workshop led by NBA Math Hoops Live presenting sponsor, GameChanger. They rotated through three engaging stations:
The day wrapped up with a Math Hoops Live game with GameChanger. After solving math problems, students run out to numbered floor tiles on the court and take a shot. Students were divided into two teams: Team West vs Team East. Both teams battled it out, with Jace Porter (Sixers Math Hoops, Laurel, DE) hitting a three-pointer before the half to put Team East ahead. The game ended with Team East narrowly defeating Team West, 20–18.
Parents even joined the fun, winning the Parents vs. Students Math Hoops game - a highlight to end the day, leaving everyone energized and ready for the final day.
Friday’s final tournament round was held at the NBA’s corporate headquarters in NYC. Students toured the offices, posed with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and received a special welcome from CEO and Co-Founder Nick Monzi. NBA legend and NBA Cares Ambassador Jason Collins also shared inspiring words ahead of the finals. A touching moment honored Tim Schiedt, the original creator behind the idea of NBA Math Hoops, whose vision lives on through the program.
Then, it was game time.
Students took their seats, the whistle blew, and the competition was on. After four intense rounds, the finals came down to the Rip City Roos, Oscar and Kingston, versus Team West, Camdyn and Samuel. It was down to the very last second, where a final spin landed, and Rip City Roos won by one point!
It was a historic moment: Oscar, from Australia, representing The Huddle, alongside his partner Kingston representing the Portland Trail Blazers, became the first international student to win the Global Championship. This dynamic duo’s win is a testament to the program’s international reach and the transformative power of education. The Huddle has led NBA Math Hoops programming across South Australia since 2021.
An awards ceremony followed the finals, recognizing students, educators, and partners for their sportsmanship, growth, and work throughout the week and season. The sportsmanship award is given to students who exemplify dedication to supporting fellow competitors and maintaining positive attitudes, in addition to their excellent gameplay.
To add to the excitement, this year's Global Championship was featured on Good Morning America. Partners Kylie Smith, representing the OKC Thunder Math Hoops program powered by Devon Energy, and Mackenzie Enoch-Noble, representing Little Rock, Arkansas, were interviewed as part of the segment. Click here to watch the full story.
Participants in the Global Championship were selected based on qualifying criteria and nominations from their program educator. To be eligible for nomination, each student must play a minimum of 25 games and complete 10 curriculum units throughout the season. In addition, participants are selected based on their academic growth, sportsmanship, and perseverance both inside and outside the classroom. Students are nominated by their educators and selected from a competitive pool of applicants; this year marked the highest number of applications in the program’s history.
Congratulations to all student participants in this year’s Global Championship!
Click here to view the event photo album.
2025 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship Winners:
Runners-Up:
Sportsmanship Award Winners:
Outstanding Educator Awards - Learn Fresh also honored the following educators for their dedication within the NBA Math Hoops program:
Partner of the Year Award:
Their hard work and commitment have made a significant impact in inspiring and empowering students to learn through the game of basketball.