Men’s Basketball’s Merrick, Singleton Set to Travel to China for 2026 Unity Cup

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men’s Basketball incoming first-years Preston Merrick and Jason Singleton are set to travel to both Beijing and Shanghai, China to take part in the 2026 Unity Cup from August 12-20 in a comprehensive experience that includes basketball training, exposure to academic and business opportunities, and cultural exchanges.
 
As part of the tour’s itinerary, the group will arrive in Beijing on August 12 before taking part in a campus tour of Tsinghua University and two practice sessions on August 13. Highlights from August 14 and 15 include a visit to The Great Wall of China, stops at local businesses and sights, and additional practices. An exhibition match and farewell party then caps the group’s time in Beijing on August 16 before the party travels to Shanghai on August 17. While in Shanghai from August 17-19, the group will train out of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and make several cultural stops in the city before closing out the experience with one final game and farewell party. The group will return to the U.S. on August 20.
 
The Unity Cup is designed to use sport as a universal language that transcends nationality and culture, building physical bonds and mutual understanding. The exchange aims to bring young people together as ambassadors of sportsmanship and communication.
 
As part of the Academics + Athletics Unity Summit, the Unity Cup brings together elite student-athletes from leading China and U.S. universities for a week of high-level training, corporate networking, cultural exchange, and two charity basketball games.
 
The tour’s mission is to connect student-athletes to the world’s best institutions and the leaders who run them. Beyond the basketball, players will have direct access to executives, founders, and investors, and will take part in the Unity Forum, a conference bringing together educators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to discuss the future of education, sports, and AI.
 
In 2024, the Crimson’s Chandler Piggé and Thomas Batties II participated in a similar experience at Tsinghua University through the US-China Summer Basketball Exchange, taking part in a program that combined athletic training with cultural immersion. The duo trained alongside players from China and the U.S., toured Beijing landmarks, shared meals showcasing Chinese cuisine, played in an exhibition match, and built cross-cultural friendships through the experience.