What Does It Take to Be the Best 1v1 Hooper in the World?
- September 10, 2026
On August 29, 16 young players from cities around the world stepped onto a court in Shanghai for the Jordan Brand The One Finals. Each had fought their way through local qualifiers and semifinals, playing head-to-head past hundreds of young hoopers, to earn a spot among the final eight players in the men’s and women’s divisions.
With no teammates, no substitutions and no collective identity to fall back on, the hoopers waged 1v1 battles to earn a singular title: The One. Watching courtside? The likes of Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Stephon Castle, Jared McCain, Guo Ailun, Li Tianrong, G.E.M., Jackson Wang, Asen and other members of the Jordan Family, hollering for this next generation as they signaled their futures on the court, letting their game do the talking.
Here, an inside look at what it took to become the champion.
You want drama? Dark sky. Bright lights. An unmistakeable skyline and stakes that are unrepeatable. One chance to be crowned the best.
For these hoopers, aged 14 to 18, becoming “someone” has been a waiting game. Waiting to grow up, waiting for a shot, waiting to be seen. The One court was their proving ground.
Minutes before tip-off, rain swept over the city.
As day turned to night, a red glow flooded the court, and it felt like the air was literally heating up.
“Don’t leave this week or this event with any regrets. You know, only one person can win, but just knowing that you gave it your all I think is an accomplishment in itself.”
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics player and six-time NBA All-Star
Players represented cities including New York and Los Angeles, Paris and Madrid, Tokyo, Beijing and more.
NBA player Jared McCain getting into the action from the sidelines.
“I think this experience is huge. For these kids to have this platform, for me to be able to see and experience and get to know them — sit at the dinner table with them and talk, ask questions. I know if I was a kid, I would love that.”
Jared McCain, Oklahoma City Thunder player and five-star recruit
Eighteen-year-old Gong Juntong from Beijing played a relentless physical game that was nearly impossible to defend.
Juntong’s physical game, long a calling card of Chinese big men, along with his smooth free throws and footwork in the paint, earned him a spot in the final round.
From the tip, 17-year-old Aina Hinojosa dictated the pace of her matches. Light on her feet but fierce in her attack, she used speed, pressure and wall-like defense.
Seventeen-year-old Racky Camara brought physicality to the final against Hinojosa. She met drives with blocks and kept pace from beyond the arc. But Hinojosa’s footwork became impossible to read.
Hinojosa took the women’s final 17–9 to become The One women’s champion. With footwork, speed and unforgettable play, the Madrid native marked her arrival to the global stage with tears streaming.
“I already knew here, I knew how to play this. I studied the floor, the rhythm, the pressure.”
Aina Hinojosa, Jordan Brand The One champion
Eighteen-year-old Jalen Mehu’s first matchup was against 17-year-old Wu Yuhang, the tightest contest of the tournament.
Regulation ended in a draw, sending the game to sudden death — and Mehu prevailed.
The men’s semifinal round pitted Mehu against 18-year-old Carter Brown — a New York versus LA match-up. Mehu drove like he was in the final, shifting the game into his own gear and winning.
“I just knew I was going to win. I didn't come all the way out here to lose, you know.”
Jalen Mehu, Jordan Brand The One champion
Mehu’s explosiveness, speed and finish at the rim came alive in the semifinals. Brown tried to use his size and length to create looks, but Mehu ran the court for the win.
In his final matchup against Gong Juntong, Jalen Mehu never let up. His footwork, bounce and attacks at the rim made a victory inevitable.
“I just knew I was going to win,” says Mehu. “I didn't come all the way out here to lose, you know.”
After Mehu’s championship win, his mother leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He had always been The One to her.
There are few proving grounds in sport with zero artifice, support in the wings, Hail Mary help. Earning the title of The One is about owning and deploying a complete game.
