News & Events

Grind Session Spotlight: Jordan Pope — From Prolific Prep to the Big Stage in Texas

Guard Jordan Pope, a Prolific Prep/Grind Session alum, has elected to return to Texas for his senior year under new head coach Sean Miller. As a junior, Pope averaged around 11.0 points per game and had standout performances including a career-high 42 points with eight 3s in a game against New Orleans.

The 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup tipped off over the weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland and the competition is loaded with an impressive lineup of Grind Session talent.

Here are the 14 former and current Grind Session stars representing their respective national teams and hoping to raise the championship trophy on July 6:

Deandre Ayton Enters Free Agency: Former Grind Session Star and No. 1 Pick Looks Ahead After Portland Exit

Former Grind Session standout and 2018 No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Deandre Ayton is officially a free agent after a seven-year journey that has taken him from top high school prospect to one of the league’s most consistent rebounders. The Portland Trailblazers announced early Monday morning that the team had finalized a buyout with Ayton.

Grind Session Stars Shine at FIBA U19 World Cup as USA and Canada Go Undefeated

The stars of the Grind Session are taking center stage on the global basketball stage this week, as the FIBA U19 World Cup unfolds in Switzerland. With standout performances from Team USA, Team Canada, and now Cameroon, it’s clear that the Grind Session has become an international pipeline of elite talent.

Team USA: Five Grind Session Alums Fuel Dominance

Team USA is off to a 2–0 start in group play, powered by five elite Grind Session alumni:

Javon Small has become the latest Grind Session alumnus to reach the NBA. The former Arizona Compass Prep standout was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies last night with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Grind Session Career

Small played his senior year (2020–2021) in the Grind Session with Arizona Compass Prep, where he helped lead the program to a historic, undefeated season — the first in Grind Session history. That legendary squad capped off their perfect run by winning the 2021 Grind Session World Championship, with Small playing a critical role as a poised floor general and high-IQ playmaker.

The Oklahoma City Thunder captured their first NBA championship in franchise history last night, with former Grind Session standout Luguentz Dort playing a crucial role in the team’s storied season. Dort and the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103‑91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to secure the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

A Defensive Anchor and Steady Scorer

From the opening tip of the NBA Finals, Dort emerged as a defining two-way threat for the Thunder. In Game 1, he turned heads by drilling five three-pointers while racking up four steals, becoming only the second player in NBA Finals history – alongside Kawhi Leonard – to achieve that rare combination.

Former Grind Session star Jalen Green is on the move. In one of the most talked-about offseason trades, Green has been dealt from the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns, signaling a fresh chapter in the career of one of the NBA’s most electric young scorers.

Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has had flashes of brilliance during his time in Houston. Now, with a change of scenery and a new backcourt partner in Devin Booker, he’s poised to bring that same explosive energy to the Valley.

Darryn Peterson Officially Enrolls at Kansas: Grind Session Champion and Future NBA Star Joins Bill Self’s Jayhawks

LAWRENCE, KANSAS — One of the most decorated high school players in the nation and a Grind Session legend has officially touched down in Jayhawk country.

Train. Compete. Elevate.

Take your game to the next level with the Grind Session Summer Showcase Events, a premier three-day basketball experience held in cities across the United States and Canada!

What to Expect

🏀 Elite Coaching & Instruction
Join top-class Grind Session coaching staff, along with current and former Grind Session players, for high-level skill development and competition.

📆 Event Schedule

TyTy Washington Jr., a proud alumnus of AZ Compass Prep and the Grind Session, continues to carve his path toward NBA success with determination and flair. As the floor general for AZ Compass Prep, TyTy led his squad to the Grind Session Championship in his senior season, solidifying his place among the nation’s elite high school prospects. His leadership, playmaking, and clutch performances made him a standout in the Grind Session’s ultra-competitive winter circuit.

The Grind Session is proud to announce that Portia Reisen, a sophomore guard from Fort Erie International Academy, has been selected as one of 12 athletes to represent Canada at the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup.

Featuring top young talent from across the Americas, the ninth edition of the tournament will take place this week (June 16-22) in Irapuato, Mexico.

Commenting on Portia’s selection, Grind Session co-founder and CEO Scott Waldrop said, “Being named to Canada's FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup team is a testament to her dedication and the bright future ahead of her. We couldn't be prouder to have her represent both her country and our circuit on the international stage."

The 2025 NBA Finals began last night, and the seven-game championship series will feature a trio of stars – Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Thomas Bryant and Isaiah Jackson of the Indiana Pacers – who have risen from the Grind Session to the pinnacle of professional basketball.

Annual NBA-certified event features 120 of the nation’s top high school basketball prospects – and once again, Grind Session stars made their mark.

The Grind Session proudly congratulates seven of its premier athletes who showcased their elite talent at the 2025 Pangos All-American Camp. Held this past weekend in Las Vegas, the annual NBA-certified event features 120 of the nation's top high school basketball prospects.

The Grind Session stars who made their mark at this year’s invitation-only camp included:

The impressive list is expected to grow in the weeks and months ahead.

The Grind Session proudly announces that 89 senior athletes from the Class of 2025 have officially committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level during the 2025–2026 season.

These seniors are headed to college programs that span a diverse array of institutions, from NCAA Division I to junior colleges, reflecting the Grind Session’s role as a vital platform for developing and showcasing top-tier men’s and women’s talent across North America.

The Grind Session is proud to announce that seven of its outgoing seniors have been selected to participate in the 6th Annual Ball Dawgs All-Star Game, set to take place in Las Vegas on May 10, 2025. Representing both the boys and girls divisions, their selections are a major milestone in their basketball journeys and a point of pride for the Grind Session community.