Shawn Liao

Shawn Liao

Shih-Siang Shawn Liao (Traditional Chinese: 廖士翔, Simplified Chinese: 廖士翔, Pinyin: Liao Shixiang, born on October 18, 1974) is a former basketball player from the People's Republic of China best known for being one of the first Asian basketball athletes to ever compete in NCAA Division I basketball for Long Island University (from 1993 to 1996). He is 1.70 m (5'7") tall and weighs 70 kilograms (155 pounds). Liao later transferred to Columbia University (1996–1999) but did not play collegiate basketball for the school. He majored in chemical engineering and economics. He is also an Alma Mater of Christ Church College at Oxford University (1997).

In 2007 China Basketball Museum (CBM), China's equivalent of USA's Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the top 10 most influential Chinese basketball players in China's basketball history. Liao was ranked as number 9 amongst his basketball peers.

Liao is currently a successful entrepreneur in New York City with major focus in the area of private-equity and real estate investments; and co-founded several Hydra companies with equity interest in real estate, technology, petrochemical, media and entertainment industries worldwide.