Harvard’s incoming men’s basketball freshmen Preston Merrick and Jason Singleton are set to embark on a week‑long journey to China in August 2026, joining the Unity Cup — a program that blends intensive basketball training with academic and business networking and cultural immersion.
The schedule, running from August 12 to August 20, will take the pair from Beijing’s bustling streets to Shanghai’s historic neighborhoods, where they will take part in daily drills, campus tours of Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and visits to landmarks such as the Great Wall.
A Week of Play and Policy
Beyond the court, participants will compete in two charity basketball games, attend the Unity Forum — a conference that explores the intersection of education, sports and artificial intelligence — and engage with local executives, founders and investors seeking talent with a global mindset.
The initiative builds on a tradition that began in 2024, when seniors Chandler Piggé and Thomas Batties II took part in a U.S.–China Summer Basketball Exchange at Tsinghua University, gaining firsthand experience of cross‑cultural teamwork and academic collaboration.
Organizers emphasize that sport serves as a bridge for building physical and intellectual bonds between young athletes from the two nations, fostering mutual understanding that extends far beyond the final buzzer.
The week will culminate with exhibition matches and farewell parties in both Beijing and Shanghai before the Harvard contingent returns to the United States on August 20, carrying with them new contacts, insights and a deeper appreciation of global citizenship.
The program’s design reflects a deliberate effort to intertwine athletic development with policy‑relevant dialogue, ensuring that the next generation of student‑athletes can translate on‑court lessons into off‑court impact.
For Merrick and Singleton, the trip represents not only a chance to sharpen their game but also to embed themselves in a network that spans continents, opening doors to internships, research collaborations and future professional opportunities.