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Robert Hinton is no stranger to the international stage. For the third straight summer, the rising sophomore and his older brother, Adam Hinton, are competing for Team Taiwan in the 44th William Jones Cup.
The duo will don the Chinese Taipei Blue team’s jerseys and spearhead Taiwan’s most competitive entry group in the tournament that is held at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City. The Xinzhuang Gymnasium is home to renowned Harvard basketball and NBA alum Jeremy Lin ‘10 and the New Taipei Kings, the reigning champions of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League.
For Hinton, the opportunity to play in Taiwan, in a historic arena, and alongside his brother is very invigorating.
“Playing with Adam is special, especially here, playing in front of our friends and family here in Taiwan,” the younger brother said at the team’s introductory press conference. “Obviously, in the Ivy League, we play against each other. I love playing with Adam here, and it’s a great feeling.”
In 2023, the Hinton brothers competed on the Chinese Taipei White team. The following year, the brothers made the Chinese Taipei Blue squad, where they led the team to a runner-up finish in the tournament, marking the program’s best performance in recent history.
“It’s our third time being back, so we’re a little more used to the structure of everything,” Hinton said. “But the excitement that we have for this event is just the same as our first year here. We’re excited and ready to play hard.”
In his first collegiate season, the 6’5” guard led the Crimson in total points, tallying an impressive 393 across the season. Averaging 14.6 points per game, Hinton was one of only five Harvard players to participate in all 27 of the Crimson’s games.
Defensively, the rookie also made a valuable impact on the court, recording 34 steals throughout his first campaign. Hinton’s versatile style of play not only stunned his Ivy League opponents but also earned him unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors, eight Ivy League Rookie of the Week recognitions, and Harvard basketball’s Raymond P. Lavietes Most Valuable Player Award.
Hinton has proven that he is more than capable of excelling under extreme pressure and against rigorous opponents. Against Princeton, a notorious foe for the Crimson, Hinton dropped 31 points. Unfazed by the hype surrounding the Tigers’ former star guard Xaivian Lee, Robert scored ten out of 15 field goals, went three for three on three-pointers, and deftly capitalized on eight of his nine free throws.
The Los Angeles, Calif., native has demonstrated his ability to shine against reputable opponents. He will be prepared for the William Jones Cup, where his team will face off against ex-NBA players and other competitors with professional basketball experience.
The Chinese Taipei Blue team will kick off the tournament on Jul. 12 against a formidable Australian team. The tournament has developed into a proving ground for rising international basketball talent. The 2025 edition will undoubtedly be competitive, especially for Robert and Adam, who are set to play eight games in just nine days against tough opponents from the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar, Japan, and the Chinese Taipei White team.
Adam Hinton is a rising senior at Cornell, where he also plays as a guard. The brothers faced off twice during the 2024-25 Ivy League season. The two teams split the games, with Harvard (12-15, 7-7 Ivy League) dropping the first contest in Ithaca 75-60. The second match-up proved to be a Friday night nail-biter for the Harvard fans who rallied in Lavietes Pavilion on Valentine's Day. Despite its underdog status, Robert and the Crimson team scratched out a two-point win over the Big Red (18-11, 9-5 Ivy League).
After a year of facing off against each other in the Ancient Eight league, the two brothers will reunite to play under the same banner on the court in New Taipei City.
Now, with a year of collegiate play under his belt, Robert Hinton has improved his athletic ability on the court, in addition to developing the grit and poise necessary to withstand a grueling tournament schedule.
As the 44th William Jones Cup tips off on Saturday morning, all eyes in Taiwan, and back in Cambridge and Ithaca, will be focused on the Hinton brothers.
For Robert, it’s another opportunity to hone his skills, prove his ability against tough competition, and honor Team Taiwan. Tune in to the William Jones Cup at 7:00 AM EST on Jul. 12 to watch the Hintons take on Australia in the first contest of the tournament.
– Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.co
