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Conference Focus: Grind Session Power, Contenders, and Elevation Conferences Take Center Stage in Toronto and Ridley College Events

Toronto Ontario Canada
Conference Focus

Conference Focus — the Power, Contenders, Elevation, and Revolution

Toronto, Ontario — November 7–9, 2025

The Grind Session’s international momentum continues this week with two major events in Canada, featuring action across all men’s and women’s conferences — the Power, Contenders, Elevation, and Revolution.

The premier Power Conference games will take place at the Pan American Centre in Toronto, while the Contenders Conference tips off its inaugural event at Ridley College, marking a massive weekend for prep basketball across North America.

The Men’s Power Conference, home to the Grind Session’s elite programs, brings a truly international lineup to Toronto this week. The field includes powerhouse teams from Italy, Canada, and the United States, setting the stage for one of the most competitive early-season events of the year.

Men’s Power Conference Teams in Action

  • The Star Alliance (Italy) – The first European team in Grind Session history, coming off their impressive Bridge of Hoops debut in Bassano Del Grappa.
  • Royal Crown School (Ontario, Canada) – A perennial Canadian contender with depth, athleticism, and championship aspirations.
  • Ft. Erie International (Ontario, Canada) – Known for producing top-level talent and one of the toughest teams to face in the circuit.
  • Athlete Institute's Orangeville Prep (Ontario, Canada) – A national powerhouse with a rich legacy of producing collegiate and professional athletes.
  • Southeastern Prep Academy (Florida) – A battle-tested American squad that thrives on toughness and pace.
  • iSchool of Lewisville (Illinois) – A versatile program known for its guard play and high-energy defense.
  • Mt. Zion Prep Academy (Maryland) – Loaded with size and athleticism, they’re a team built to contend for a deep postseason run.

Joining them from the Men’s Elevation Conference will be Albuquerque Prep (New Mexico) — a program that has quickly become one to watch. Their disciplined style, gritty defense, and emerging young talent have made them a sleeper pick to break into Power Conference contention next season.

Women’s Power and Revolution Conferences: Elite Programs Headline in Toronto

On the women’s side, both Power and Revolution Conference programs will be showcased in Toronto, with the event featuring some of the most talented prep players in North America.

Women’s Teams in Action

  • Royal Crown School (Ontario, Canada) – The reigning women’s Power Conference champions, led by standout guard Amaya Robinson (2026) and a deep roster of elite scorers.
  • Ft. Erie International (Ontario, Canada) – Always in the mix among the top Canadian women’s programs.
  • Albuquerque Prep (New Mexico) – Competing in the Power Conference schedule this season, showing impressive growth across both sides of the program.
  • Legion Prep (Texas) – Making their Grind Session debut under new head coach Del’Vin Dickerson and Director of Operations Irving Roland, bringing over 30 years of NBA, WNBA, and collegiate experience.
  • Example Academy (Illinois) – One of the Midwest’s most respected women’s prep programs, coming to Grind Session play with a talented roster.

The women’s competition opens Friday afternoon with a can’t-miss matchup between Royal Crown and Legion Prep, two championship-caliber squads that bring a mix of experience, depth, and high-level coaching to the floor.

Contenders Conference: A New Era Begins at Ridley College

This weekend also marks the official debut of the Grind Session’s newest division — the Contenders Conference — designed to expand opportunities for emerging programs across North America.

The Ridley College event in St. Catharines, Ontario, will feature an incredible 29 total teams, including four women’s teams led by women's Power Conference participant Albuquerque Prep (NM).

The Contenders Conference serves as a developmental and competitive bridge between local prep circuits and the Elevation Conference level, providing a stage for programs looking to climb the Grind Session ranks through consistent performance and player development.

Elevation Conference: The Pathway to Power

While the Power Conference features the top-tier programs, the Elevation Conference continues to play a critical role in the Grind Session ecosystem — serving as the proving ground for teams looking to earn a promotion to Power status next season.

Albuquerque Prep’s men’s team, competing in the Toronto event, exemplifies this mission. The program’s blend of athleticism, discipline, and development-first mentality make them a must-watch team as they aim to rise into the Power ranks in 2026.

The Grind Session: Global Basketball, One Platform

With events this week in both Toronto and St. Catharines, the Grind Session continues to prove why it is the most global prep basketball platform in the world — bringing together elite players from the U.S., Canada, and Europe under one competitive structure.

From Power Conference dominance to Contenders breakthroughs and Elevation-level growth, the Grind Session’s system continues to provide pathways for teams and players to develop, compete, and showcase their dreams on an international stage.

Upcoming Events

November 7–9, 2025
Pan American Centre – Toronto, Ontario (Power & Revolution Conferences)
Ridley College – St. Catharines, Ontario (Contenders Conference)

Stay tuned to GrindSession.com for schedules, daily recaps, and feature stories throughout the weekend as the Grind Session takes over Canada.

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Grind Session

Grind Session

Grind Session is the first-ever winter circuit of elite high school basketball events. In past seasons, our teams have played in some of the greatest and most unique cities across the U.S., as well as Canada, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. From November to March over 400 action-packed games will be played. Grind Session is more than just great games: it's an opportunity to prepare for the next chapter of your basketball career.

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