Kyoto Seika Gakuen Senior High School from Japan and Yongsan High School from Korea emerged as champions at the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational held in Singapore. The event brought together top boys’ and girls’ high school teams from across the Asia-Pacific region for a historic competition.

In the girls’ final, Kyoto Seika overwhelmed Onyang Girls’ High School of Korea with a commanding 109-40 victory. The Japanese squad raced to a 27-11 first-quarter lead and never looked back, executing at both ends of the floor with speed and precision.

Yoshida and Kim lead MVP performances

Hikari Yoshida led the Kyoto Seika attack, orchestrating fast breaks and slicing through the defense to earn MVP honors. Her team shot 50 percent from the field and went 11-of-18 from the free throw line, while Onyang struggled with just 20.3 percent shooting.

In the boys’ final, Yongsan High School dismantled China’s Tsinghua University High School 97-48 with an explosive display. Led by MVP Kim Min-gi, team captain Daniel Edi, and forward Kim Tae-in, the Koreans combined discipline, pace, and accurate shooting to seal the title.

Strong crowd and global recognition

The finals drew a sold-out crowd of 1,100 fans at Kallang Tennis Hub, including NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis, WNBA legend Lauren Jackson, and current NBA players Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro. B.LEAGUE star Keisei Tominaga also attended, emphasizing the global reach and recognition of the event.

The NBA Rising Stars Invitational, operated by NBA Singapore in partnership with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board, ran from June 25–29, 2025. Featuring teams from 11 nations, the tournament aimed to foster international youth development and celebrate cultural exchange through sport.