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The Grind Session Tips Off in Louisville This Week

Mikel Brown Jr 4

Four-day showcase will feature 27 teams, 26 games, and an impressive list of some of the nation’s Top 100 boys and girls prospects.

The Grind Session is hosting a four-day showcase at Fern Creek High School in Louisville this week, from Thursday through Sunday.

The event will feature 27 teams from 14 states and Canada, 26 games, and an impressive list of some of the nation’s Top 100 boys and girls prospects in the ’25, ’26, and ‘27 classes. It opens with three games on Thursday, continues with eight games on Friday and 11 games on Saturday, and concludes with four games on Sunday

Among the top-rated prospects playing this week are:

  • Mikel Brown Jr., DME Academy – Class of 2025 #7 prospect (247Sports)
  • Paulo Semedo, West Oaks Academy – Class of 2025 #77 prospect (ESPN)
  • Sania Richardson, Grind Prep – Class of 2025 # 86 prospect (ESPN HoopGurlz)
  • Jermal Jones, DME Academy – Class of 2026 #36 prospect (On3)
  • Marcis “Baby Shaq” Ponder, West Oaks Academy – Class of 2026 #58 prospect (Rivals)
  • Willie Burnett III, West Oaks Academy – Class of 2026 #60 prospect (ESPN)
  • De’Andra Minor, Grind Prep – Class of 2027 #10 prospect (ESPN HoopGurlz)

Here’s the full schedule:

Main Gym

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

3:45 p.m. – SFBA Trinity Prep (NV) vs. Quality Education (NC)

5:30 p.m. – DME Academy (FL) vs. Hamilton Heights (TN) women

7:00 p.m. – Wilson Academy (GA) vs. Hamilton Heights (TN)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

2:00 p.m. – Dream City Christian (AZ) vs. St. Jude’s Academy (ON, CAN) women

3:45 p.m. – Grind Prep (OK) vs. DME Academy (FL) women

5:30 p.m. – West oaks Academy (FL) vs. DME Academy (FL)

7:00 p.m. – Mt. Zion Prep (MD) vs. Chi Prep (IL)

8:45 p.m. – Lyon County (KY) vs. Seneca (KY)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

10:00 a.m. – Hamilton heights (TN) vs. Dream City Christian (AZ) women

11:45 a.m. – DME Academy (FL) vs. Accelerated prep (CO)

1:30 p.m. – St. Jude’s Academy (ON, CAN) vs. Grind Prep (OK) women

3:15 p.m. – Louisville Male (KY) vs. Seneca (KY)

4:45 p.m. – The Rock (FL) vs. Mt. Zion Prep (MD)

6:30 p.m. – Winston Salem Christian (NC) vs. West Oaks Academy (FL)

8: 15 p.m. – Chi Prep (IL) vs. Huntington Expression Prep (WV)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

11:45 a.m. – Accelerated Prep (CO) vs. Winston Salem Christian (NC)

1:30 p.m. – Louisville Male (KY) vs. McCluer North (MO)

3:00 p.m. – Huntington Expression Prep (WV) vs. DNA Prep (CA)

4:45 p.m. – Tri-City Prep (ON, CAN) vs. Wesley Christian (KY)

Auxiliary Gym

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

4:00 p.m. – Hamilton Heights (TN) vs. Victory Rock Prep (FL)

5:45 p.m. – Quality Education (NC) vs. The Rock (FL)

7:30 p.m. – Grind Prep (OK) vs. Wilson Academy (GA)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

10:45 a.m. – Wesley Christian (KY) vs. SFBA Trinity Prep (NV)

12:00 p.m. – DNA Prep (CA) vs. Tri-City Prep (ON, CAN)

2:15 p.m. – Victory Rock Prep (FL) vs. Grind Prep (OK)

4:00 p.m. – McCluer North (MO) vs. Collins (KY)

“The Grind Session has taken high school basketball to new heights, becoming the home and proving ground for the nation's best prospects and teams. College coaches are looking for players that are ready, seasoned and developed to play college basketball and our level of competition is just that,” said Grind Session co-founder and CEO Scott Waldrop. “We’re excited about bringing the action to Louisville and look forward to an exciting week of elite prep basketball.”

Admission is $15 a day, and kids age 6 and under are free.

Games can be viewed on the Bleacher Report app, House of Highlights YouTube channel, and Tanager Sports

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Grind Session

The Grind Session

The 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 300 action-packed games will be played. The 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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