Applications open for 2026 Joe Tsai Basketball Scholarship

Applications for the 2026 Joe Tsai Basketball Scholarship officially opened on Monday and will be accepted through Oct 19.

The program plans to select up to 10 student-athletes (no more than five boys and five girls, respectively) and fully sponsor their studies at top boarding schools in the United States.

Applicants must meet four core criteria: be a Chinese citizen (including permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao) with official school enrollment; be born between Sept 1, 2010, and Aug 31, 2012; possess the required academic background and English proficiency; have at least two years of systematic basketball training and experience in junior high school leagues or U-series competitions.

The application workflow consists of three stages: submission of materials by Oct 19, attending a training camp in December and an announcement of final selection results in May 2026. The official website lays out the process in more detail.

Launched in 2019 by Joe Tsai — co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, and founder of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation — and officially supported by the Chinese Basketball Association, this charitable program has developed into a well-established system. It has partnered with nearly 30 leading US basketball-focused high schools across key education regions such as California and Florida, sponsoring a total of 28 Chinese students to pursue their academic and basketball dreams in the US.

"We aim to find a group of promising student-athletes and provide them with the opportunity to grow by learning and competing alongside outstanding peers overseas — improving their skills, building confidence, and strengthening both body and mind," said Tsai.

Over the past seven years, a number of young talents have made their mark abroad. Wang Fuqu and Li Xinyi from the first cohort have earned full scholarships to NCAA Division I programs. Class of 2022 players Huan Sinan and Huan Sifeng have drawn interest from prestigious universities, such as the University of Alabama and the University of Florida.

Many scholarship recipients have excelled in US high school leagues, while also improving their language skills and broadening their horizons through international education, laying a solid foundation for their future career path, and becoming a new force in the next generation of Chinese basketball.

Looking ahead, the program will continue to promote balanced development between male and female players, encouraging more girls to participate, and cultivating Chinese basketball talents with global perspectives and all-around competencies. It will also further serve as a bridge to deepen sports and cultural exchanges between China and abroad.

Outstanding Chinese youth basketball players aged 13 to 15 can submit their materials via the official website: www.joetsaibbs.com.