Grind Session Goes Global at Second Annual Bridge of Hoops in Rome
ROME, Italy — The Grind Session continues to expand its international footprint, bringing some of the world's top young basketball talent together for the second annual Bridge of Hoops event in Rome, Italy.
The four-day exhibition featured 13 games, showcasing elite competition between teams from North America, Europe and the Middle East. The event provided an opportunity for some of the world's most promising young players to test their skills against international competition while gaining valuable experience on a global stage.
“The second iteration of Bridge of Hoops was everything that we hoped it would be,” explained top organizer Brian Clifton of the Grind Session. “The competition was top notched and the cultural impact was even better. Our platform has always been about educating, empowering and supporting athletes and their families. We hit on all marks this week,” Clifton added.
Four Grind Session programs made the trip to Italy, including Southeastern Prep (Florida), Ft. Erie International Academy (Canada), South Central Prep (Oklahoma) and Lacore Elite Academy (Texas).
The Grind Session teams faced an impressive international field that included two Italian programs, The Star Alliance and Olimpia Milano, along with Ekselences Juniori Riga from Latvia and BC Dubai.
The event brought together talented young players representing different countries, basketball cultures and styles of play, creating a unique competitive environment. With high-level talent on both sides of the Atlantic, Bridge of Hoops provided an opportunity for players to showcase their abilities against unfamiliar opponents while developing their skills and gaining international exposure.
“The trip to Italy has been surreal. It’s a place everyone dreams of going and we are here playing and coaching the game we love,” South Central Prep coach and administrator Austin Wright said. “I was told once, allow God to use basketball as a vehicle and see where it takes you. It’s taken us across the world to play some of the best teams in Europe and meet some great people. It’s been an amazing experience for us and we’re extremely thankful the Grind Session facilitated this opportunity. This is something our guys will never forget,” Wright added.
For the Grind Session, the event represents another significant step in its mission to grow the game of basketball beyond traditional borders. Already recognized as the premier international high school basketball circuit, the Grind Session continues to create opportunities for its member programs to compete against elite talent from around the world.
Bridge of Hoops also served as an exciting preview of the upcoming Grind Session season, giving participating programs an opportunity to evaluate their teams against quality international opponents before regular season competition begins.
“What a great opportunity the Grind Session’s second Bridge of Hoops provided in Rome. A world stage for both international and state side teams to showcase some of the best high school players in the world,” said Grind Session broadcaster A.J. Martin. “We will continue to strive at being the gold standard for prep basketball. More than a dozen NBA scouts and executives made their way to Rome to check out these high level players. It’s been a great week of making life long memories as we prepare to kick off the official start of our 2026-2027 season,” Martin concluded.
The Grind Session will officially tip off its 13th season Nov. 5-8 at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, bringing together another talented field of programs from across North America and beyond.
As the Grind Session enters its 13th year, events such as Bridge of Hoops reinforce the circuit's commitment to international competition, player development and providing a global platform for the next generation of basketball stars.
From Rome to Canada and beyond, the Grind Session continues to prove that basketball has no borders.
