MADE Hoops and FIBA Partner to Launch Global Games Middle School Championship

MADE Hoops and FIBA have announced a strategic partnership to launch the MADE Hoops Global Games, the first-ever middle school basketball world championship.

The event, held in association with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, represents a landmark collaboration between an international governing body and a leading American grassroots organisation to standardise youth development for athletes aged U10 through U14.

The inaugural tournament is scheduled for 12-14 June 2026 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts—the birthplace of basketball.

Emphasising that the event is about more than just competition, founder and CEO of MADE Hoops, Chad Babel, said: “It’s another step in MADE’s journey to connect American basketball players with European basketball development and culture.”

“Our hope is that we can use the game of basketball to shrink the world and educate young people,” Babel said.

Co-Founder of SC Holdings, Jason Stein, noted that the best young players in America should be competing under international rules from the earliest stages of their development to remain competitive on the world stage.

A Global Framework for Youth Development

The competition will utilise FIBA international rules and basketballs, a move aimed at bridging the gap between American youth styles and the global game. The partnership combines MADE Hoops’ domestic infrastructure, which serves over 100,000 athletes annually, with FIBA’s international credibility and reach.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO of FIBA in the Americas, Carlos Alves, said: “This partnership represents a transformative opportunity for aspiring young athletes.”

“By combining MADE Hoops’ profound expertise… with FIBA’s expansive international reach, we are creating a powerful alliance,” Alves said.

Strategic Expansion and Investment

The Global Games initiative follows a period of rapid institutional growth for MADE Hoops, including:

• Professional Investment: A November 2025 investment round led by SC Holdings and LRMR Ventures, with participation from Kevin Durant’s 35V and NBA star Paolo Banchero.
• Global Qualifying Circuit: Following the June event, a series of global qualifying tournaments will be scheduled throughout the year across Europe and other selected regions.
• Developmental Synergy: The games build on the momentum of MADE’s year-round training facility in Brooklyn, focused on integrating international best practices into the American player pathway.

The selection of Springfield as the host city is expected to drive significant economic impact for the region.

President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, John Doleva, remarked that the Global Games honour Dr. Naismith’s original vision of “a game for everyone, everywhere.”

For the 2026 competition, teams will be selected on an invite-only basis, with applications now open for both domestic and international programs.

The tournament will feature pool play followed by a single-elimination bracket, establishing a new high-water mark for the commercialisation and professionalisation of the middle school basketball landscape.

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