Designing the Stage for Canada’s Next Generation of Basketball Talent
Inside the 2026 National Championships for NPA & WNPA
For Canada’s top high school basketball players competing in the National Championship for the National Preparatory Association (NPA) and Women’s National Preparatory Association (WNPA), it is an environment built to mirror the pressure, intensity, and spectacle of the next level for a lot of these athletes.
With the NBA Playoffs underway this 2026 season, the key faces of the league have shifted to northern stars of Canadian Players. Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), Devin Brooks, AJ Lawson, RJ Barrett (Toronto), Lu Dort (OKC), and Andrew Nembhard (Indiana). Nickeil Alexander-Walker to name a few. Even more with SGA winning another MVP award back-to-back.
Before playing on the world stage, many of these players proved themselves in the NPA. National Preparatory Association high-school prep league. I was approached to design the national championship tournament for both men's and women’s, celebrating the best high-school players in the country and creating a Canadian experience for these players to grow from in their next steps in their competitive careers.
The Challenge: Build a Stage, Worthy of the Moment
The goal was clear: create a visual identity that felt as "National" as the stage itself. We developed a master brand mark that anchored the entire event—from the logo to championship merchandise. This visual ecosystem spanned both leagues, as far as creative but also production and sports marketing event coverage.
The Kit: We handled everything from social media graphics and tournament brackets to printed materials and awards.
The Prestige: We were designing for the best high school players in the country—future D1 stars and NBA prospects.
National in scale
Elite in tone
Memorable for athletes, families, and scouts
Across both men’s and women’s leagues, the work needed to unify:
Championship branding
Event identity systems
Social and digital content
Physical environments and merchandise
All while respecting the distinct energy of each league.
Crafting the Championship Identity
At the center of the work was the creation of a National Championships brand system.
This included:
Primary logo and visual identity
Typography and color systems
Graphic language for motion and social
Brackets, schedules, and tournament graphics
Designing for Both Sides of the Game
One of the most important considerations was building for both NPA and WNPA.
Same stage. Same stakes.
But different expressions.
Rather than duplicating visuals, the approach created parallel identities—connected at the system level, but distinct enough to give each league its own presence and energy.
That balance matters. It signals equity without flattening identity.
From Digital to Physical: Merchandise & Environment
Championship moments live beyond the final buzzer.
So the work extended into:
Championship apparel
Event merchandise
Print materials and signage
These weren’t treated as afterthoughts. They were designed as extensions of the brand system—giving athletes something tangible that marks their place in the moment.
Because for many of these players, this is their first experience inside something that feels nationally significant.
The Athletes on the Stage
This wasn’t an abstract audience. These were real players, competing in real moments that shape real futures.
The Men’s National Circuit
Quinten Ethier & CJ Roberts (Ridley College): Ethier cemented his legacy this season, leading Ridley to the NPA National title. Both he and Roberts represent the grit and tactical precision of the Ridley program.
Isaiah Hamilton (Crestwood): A high-flying 6’7" small forward, Hamilton is currently a blue-chip prospect with offers from programs like Arizona State and Florida State.
Eli Jolin (Fort Erie) & Yousef Ahmad (King Heights): These guards represent the explosive backcourt talent in the NPA, both standing tall at 6’7" and posing massive matchup nightmares for defenders.
Andy Gemao (Royal Crown): A global standout. After finishing at Royal Crown, Gemao has been making waves internationally, proving the NPA is a true launchpad for professional careers.
Malachi Richmond & Patrick Anamali (Edge): The engine room for Edge School, bringing a physical presence that defines the competitive spirit of the tournament.
The WNPA Women’s Circuit
Amelia Sow & Portia Reisen (Fort Erie): Sow has been a statistical juggernaut, leading the circuit in scoring (25.3 PPG), while Reisen continues to be a focal point for Canada Basketball’s national team pathway.
Kaylen Sta. Maria & Jordyn Wheeler (Niagara Prep): Both recently attended Canada Basketball’s U18 selection camp, proving that Niagara Prep remains a premier factory for elite collegiate talent.
Chance Berry (Royal Crown): A versatile presence on the floor, Berry’s performance at the National Championships highlighted why Royal Crown is a perennial powerhouse.
Celebrating the Best: Awards Night
The Championships culminated in Awards Night—spotlighting top performers across the country.
Players recognized here sit at a critical point in the pipeline:
Future Division I athletes
Emerging national-level prospects
Early NBA and WNBA scouting radar talent
The creative direction leaned into prestige and recognition—elevating the moment beyond ceremony into validation.
Not just participation. Acknowledgement.
The All-Star Moment
Following the tournament, attention shifts to the NPA All-Star Game.
This is where identity becomes personality.
The work expanded into:
Custom uniform design
Red vs Blue team identities
Supporting visual system
The uniforms weren’t just color variations—they were designed as selection pieces, reinforcing the idea that these athletes had been chosen to represent the best of the best.
Why This Work Matters
At this level, design isn’t decoration—it’s infrastructure.
It shapes:
How athletes see themselves
How scouts interpret the environment
How the event is remembered
For a generation of Canadian basketball talent pushing toward the global stage, the visual system around them becomes part of the story.
When the best players in the country step onto the floor, everything around them should rise to meet that level.
This project was about making sure it did.
Building the Future of Sports Through Design
At Contender Studio, we believe sports branding should do more than look good.
It should elevate athletes.
Strengthen culture.
Create credibility.
And build experiences that feel worthy of the moment.
The NPA & WNPA National Championships were an opportunity to help shape how elite Canadian basketball is presented — not just to fans, but to scouts, families, media, and the athletes themselves.
As sports continue evolving across youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional levels, organizations are being judged by more than wins and losses. They’re being judged by experience, presentation, storytelling, and identity.
That’s where design becomes a competitive advantage.
Whether it’s:
Championship branding
League identity systems
Tournament creative direction
Uniform and apparel design
Sports marketing campaigns
UX/UI for sports technology products
Content systems and motion design
Event presentation and environmental graphics
We help sports organizations create work that feels modern, intentional, and built for the next generation of athletes and fans.
If you’re a:
League
Team
Sports tech startup
Event organizer
Athletic program
Agency
Media platform
Brand working in sports
…and you’re looking to elevate how your organization looks, feels, and performs visually, we’d love to collaborate.
Because the best athletes deserve experiences designed at the same level they compete.
Let’s Team Up!
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By Jason Jay
CEO | Creative Director
Contender Studio
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