Yao Ming, Shanghai Jiao Tong University  姚明，上海交大

 

Yao Ming, considered by many as the best-known and most popular Chinese athlete in the world, is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who played center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA from 2002 to 2011. After his retirement in July 2011, the eight-time all-Star was recruited at the Antai College of Economics & Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University as a full-time student in November 2011. Yao, who now operates two companies, is also boss of his former Chinees basketball team the Shanghai Sharks. In fact, Yao registered at the university in 2001, but stayed on campus only for one year, as he was too busy at that time.