The Grind Session recently announced its men’s and women’s individual award winners and other honorees for the 2024-2025 season. Showcasing the strength and parity of the circuit, 23 different teams earned a place on the various listings and 10 programs saw themselves with at least one individual award winner.
For the men, Prolific Prep’s Ryan Bernardi was named Coach of the Year and Darryn Peterson was recognized as both the Grind Session’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Utah Prep’s AJ Dybantsa was honored as Defensive Player of the Year; West Oaks Academy’s Willie Burnett III was tabbed Under the Radar Player of the Year; Albuquerque Prep’s Brandon Mason, Jr. was voted Underclassman of the Year; and Rosemary Anderson Prep’s Hunter Carter took home the honor as Most Improved Player.
On the women’s side, DME Academy swept the top-line awards, when Michael Panaggio was honored as Coach of the Year and GiGi Battle was named Most Valuable Player. Bella Hines and Tamaiah Gary of Albuquerque Prep were voted Offensive Player of the Year and Underclassman of the Year, respectively. Elite Prep’s Oliviyah Edwards was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year; Academy of Central Florida’s Johanna Flores was named Under the Radar Player of the Year; and Bella Vista Prep’s Mackenzie Buckner was recognized as Most Improved Player.
The men’s and women’s All-Grind Session, All-Defensive, and All-Underclassman teams were also named.
“These awards are the simplest way to honor the hoopers, coaches, and game changers who make our circuit elite,” said Grind Session co-founder and CEO Scott Waldrup. “Congratulations to all the honorees and thank you for making this season unforgettable.”
The complete list of winners and honorees is below:
2024-2025 Grind Session Men's Basketball Awards
Coach of the Year: Ryan Bernardi, Prolific Prep
Most Valuable Player: Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep
Offensive Player of the Year: Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep
Defensive Player of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep
Under the Radar Player of the Year: Willie Burnett III, West Oaks Academy
Underclassman of the Year: Brandon Mason Jr., Albuquerque Prep
Most Improved Player: Hunter Carter, Rosemary Anderson Prep
All-Grind Session Team
Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian
Martay Barnes, Academy of Central Florida
Mikel Brown Jr, DME Sports Academy
Niko Bundalo, Prolific Prep
Willie Burnett III, West Oaks Academy
Arafan Diane, Iowa United
AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep
Obinna Ekezie Jr, Prolific Prep
Anthony Felesi, Utah Prep
Winters Grady, Prolific Prep
Braydon Hawthorne, Huntington Expression Prep
JJ Mandaquit, Utah Prep
Brandon Mason Jr, Albuquerque Prep
Adriel Nyorha, Winston Salem Christian
Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep
Jayden Robinson, DNA Prep Academy
All-Defensive Team
Martay Barnes, Academy of Central Florida
Arafan Diane, Iowa United
AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep
Obinna Ekezie Jr, Prolific Prep
Marcis Ponder, West Oaks Academy
All-Underclassman Team
Jaylin Conard, DNA Prep Academy
Obinna Ekezie Jr, Prolific Prep
Brandon Mason Jr, Albuquerque Prep
Jayden Robinson, DNA Prep Academy
Josiah Johnson-Freeman, Winston Salem Christian
2024-2025 Grind Session Women's Basketball Awards
Coach of the Year: Michael Panaggio, DME Sports Academy
Most Valuable Player: GiGi Battle, DME Sports Academy
Offensive Player of the Year: Bella Hines, Albuquerque Prep
Defensive Player of the Year: Oliviyah Edwards, Elite Prep
Under the Radar Player of the Year: Johanna Flores, Academy of Central Florida
Underclassman of the Year: Tamaiah Gary, Albuquerque Prep
Most Improved Player: Mackenzie Buckner, Bella Vista Prep
All-Grind Session Team
GiGi Battle, DME Sports Academy
Chance Berry, Royal Crown School
Mackenzie Buckner, Bella Vista Prep
Jayla Constant, Grind Prep Academy
Chikae Desdunes, DME Sports Academy
Ivona Djikanovic, AZ Compass Prep
Oliviyah Edwards, Elite Prep
Johanna Flores, Academy of Central Florida
Tamaiah Gary, Albuquerque Prep
Bella Hines, Albuquerque Prep
De’Andra Minor, Grind Prep Academy
Aiyanna Perkins, Bella Vista Prep
Kamiya Pruitt, Legion Prep
Portia Reisen, Ft. Erie International Academy
Noa Woodruff, Hamilton Heights Christian
Nyadieng Yiech, Ft. Erie International Academy
All-Defensive Team
Saniya Douglas, Grind Prep Academy
Oliviyah Edwards, Elite Prep
Bella Hines, Albuquerque Prep
Sophie Morales, Bella Vista Prep
Aiyanna Perkins, Bella Vista Prep
All-Underclassman Team
Chance Berry, Royal Crown School
Mica Cavalcanti, DME Sports Academy
Tamaiah Gary, Albuquerque Prep
De’Andra Minor, Grind Prep Academy
Portia Reisen, Ft. Erie International Academy
