Pac-12 announces 2nd annual China game

In addition to the game, the 2016 Pac-12 China Game will include a number of educational and cultural experiences for players, coaches and Pac-12 conference personnel alike.

And the lead-up to next year's game is set to coincide with Alibaba's Singles Day, which is the world's largest online shopping spree in the world.

The Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) will again serve as the co-host for the game. Established in 1975, FUSC is the country's only national organization overseeing collegiate sports.

Since 2011, the Pac-12 and FUSC have worked together to put on a number of educational symposiums on collegiate sports.

The Pac-12 conference, which is composed of 12 schools, is home to more than 21,000 native Chinese students across its various undergraduate and graduate programs, data from the Pac-12 shows.

Pac-12 officials hope the game in China will become a part of the annual men's college basketball season.

Johnny Dawkins, Stanford University's Anne and Tony Joseph Director of men's basketball, said the school is "honored" by the opportunity to represent the Pac-12 Conference in Shanghai.

Dawkins, who served as a member of the coaching staff for the United States men's national basketball team in 2008, said he has very fond memories of his time in China where the team captured the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"This event will provide a rewarding cultural experience for our student-athletes, allowing our program to explore the city and play on a global stage against an exceptional school in Harvard," Dawkins said.

Tommy Amaker, the Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Head Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball, said in Friday's news release: "Competing against a great basketball program in Stanford, while offering our young men an opportunity to learn first-hand about the magnificent Chinese culture … will be a unique and transformational learning experience for our student-athletes."