New York, NY - May 26, 2026 — Learn Fresh is proud to announce the students and Outstanding Educators selected for the 2026 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship, the culminating event of the NBA Math Hoops season. Co-hosted by Learn Fresh and NBA Cares, the tournament will bring together 28 students from across the United States, France, Australia, Mexico, and South Korea in New York City during NBA draft week, June 22–25. In addition to competing, participants will engage in STEM experiences, museum visits, and sports industry activations throughout the city.
The 2026 Global Championship received one of the highest numbers of student applications to date, with more than 200 submissions from around the world. The selected participants represent 16 NBA and WNBA markets and reflect the continued growth of NBA Math Hoops internationally. During the 2025–26 season, NBA Math Hoops served over 320,000 students across multiple regions.
Sitting at the intersection of sports, STEM education, and cultural exchange, the Global Championship offers a once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience for students. As part of the core principles of the program and tournament, they are designed to expand students’ sense of possibility both academically and professionally. Through hands-on experiences connected to the sports industry, participants are introduced to a wide range of STEM and career pathways beyond the game of basketball.
The 2026 event marks the fourth consecutive year the Global Championship will be hosted in New York City. Originally launched as a national competition in 2017 for students across the United States and its territories, the event has since expanded internationally to include participants from multiple countries. Previous championships have been hosted in partnership with NBA teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, and Philadelphia 76ers, before finding a home in New York City in 2023.
This year’s Global Championship features the first official collaboration with a WNBA team during the culminating event through partnerships with the New York Liberty and Alipay.
To be considered for the Global Championship, students must complete at least 25 NBA Math Hoops games and 10 curriculum units during the season. Applicants also submit a written application and a recommendation from an educator or program lead. Final selections are based on academic growth, perseverance, leadership, and sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the year.
Since 2012, NBA Math Hoops has engaged more than 1.5 million students through partnerships with nearly 30 NBA and WNBA teams, alongside founding partners including the NBA, Hasbro, and Getty Images.
2026 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship Participants:
Adam Pennington — Arlington, VA
Wizards Math Hoops presented by KPMG
Ananiel Thamsanqa — Huntington, IN
Pacers/Fever Math Hoops presented by Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Eli Lilly
Benjamin Harris — Ames, IA
Sponsored by Harrison & Brittany Barnes
Brandon Hale — Milwaukee, WI
Bucks Math Hoops presented by ATC
Chanel Smith — Detroit, MI
Pistons Math Hoops presented by Michigan First Credit Union
Faith Rodriguez — San Antonio, TX
Spurs Math Hoops presented by Whataburger
Grace Napier — Brunswick, OH
Cavaliers Math Hoops
Halo Milton — Jonesboro, GA
Sponsored by Cummins
Jaelon Ruffin — Austin, TX
Jameer Baker — Chicago, IL
Keira “Ra” Clarke — Phoenix, AZ
Suns/Mercury Math Hoops presented by Annexus
Kevin Aaron Umaña Mendoza — Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico
Lian Park — Seoul, South Korea
Liv De Eskinazis — Bougival, France
Sponsored by Cummins
Luke Massey — Laurel, DE
Maceo Brunn — Denver, CO
Nuggets Math Hoops presented by UMB Bank
Makeia Brune — Waynoka, OK
Thunder Math Hoops presented by Devon Energy
Mali Groce — Philadelphia, PA
76ers Math Hoops presented by Sixers Youth Foundation
Marcus Paul Jr. — Little Rock, AR
Little Rock School District
Moises Sandoval — Portland, OR
Trail Blazers Math Hoops presented by First Tech Federal Credit Union
Ned “Emir” De Eskinazis — La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France
Sponsored by Cummins
Priana Gowins — New York, NY
New York Liberty Math Hoops presented by AliPay
Royal Johnson — Oakland, CA
Warriors Math Hoops presented by Golden State Community Foundation
Tamara Rojas Rosas — Elk Grove, CA
Kings Math Hoops presented by NBC Sports and Telemundo
Tristan Stewart — Syracuse, NY
2026 Outstanding Educator Award Recipients:
About NBA Math Hoops:
NBA Math Hoops is a dynamic learning experience that leverages the game of basketball and the NBA and WNBA brands to develop algebra readiness and critical thinking, and collaboration skills. The program features physical and digital basketball-themed games, real-life performance statistics, and identities of all NBA and WNBA players, classroom curricula, and community event series. NBA Math Hoops is offered free to school-day and out-of-school-time educators. NBA Math Hoops is designed to serve students in 4th - 8th grade and is adaptable to a variety of learning spaces.
About Learn Fresh:
Learn Fresh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative STEM learning experiences that empower educators and inspire students. Through community, play, and rigorous exploration, we leverage students’ passion for sports and entertainment to inspire their STEM learning and foster essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and leadership. Our programs are explicitly focused on students living in low-income communities. We believe all students deserve a quality and engaging education. To date, our programming has engaged over 1.5 million students across the US and beyond. Programs include NBA Math Hoops, MLB Players STEM League, MLS STEM Goals, and EcoTour. More information can be found at www.learnfresh.org.