News & Events

Grind Session Review: Atlanta Men Bring the Heat, Daytona Women Bring the Statement
Atlanta Georgia, Daytona Beach Florida
By: Rick Manahan
Toni Bryant and Sara OKeke

Toni Bryant and Sara OKeke

The Grind Session circuit delivered back-to-back showcases packed with rivalry renewal, elite guard play, overwhelming depth, and a national-ranking narrative at center stage. From “wow” moments in Georgia to an emphatic close on the home floor in Florida, the last two Grind Session events proved the heartbeat of the prep-basketball season is louder than ever.

Atlanta Men’s Showcase — Power Conference Results & Top Winning Teams

The Atlanta stop opened with fireworks as top Canadian and U.S. programs collided, producing instant classics and buzzer-beating chaos.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy (Power Conference)

Zephyrhills set the tone for completeness on both ends of the floor. 5-star senior Toni Bryant posted a headline stat line — 15 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals — bullying the boards, protecting the rim, and flying downhill in transition. Their rotation depth landed follow-up punches all weekend, and a 44–29 rebounding advantage over West Oaks underscored their motor.

Gillion Academy (Power Conference)

Right behind them in impact and national relevance was Gillion Academy, powered by star big Marcis Ponder, who finished the weekend with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks in their razor-thin 82–81 win over DME. Ponder, a Florida State commit, delivered paint presence without striking the inside-the-cylinder call on Kirk’s last-second tip-in that was waved off.

Top Scoring Standouts — Atlanta Men

Guards and wings carried offensive pop across the weekend. Here are the Power and Elevation Conference scoring headliners from Atlanta:

Atlanta delivered clarity in the most debated prep-hoops narrative: guards win games, but reliable depth + dominant rebounding shifts events.

Daytona Beach — The Women Turned Showcase into a Statement

Top Winning Team — Women’s Division

The first-ever all-women’s Grind Session standalone crowned its home team as the unquestioned program of the weekend.

Undefeated Champions: DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Florida)

On their home court, DME Academy went 3–0, earning wins over Bella Vista Prep, Legion Prep, and Huntington Expression Prep, and left no doubt who controls the “next-gen narrative” in Florida.

Led by future Indiana Hoosier Gigi Battle, DME sped up the floor, suffocated possessions, and wore teams down with waves of fresh depth. Battle turned scorer and stopper with 28 points and 8 rebounds in DME’s 66–46 win over Legion Prep, taking over the critical moments.

Top Scoring Standouts — Daytona Women

Day 1 Scoring Leaders

Day 2 Scoring Leaders

Day 3 Scoring Leaders

Pattern-Setting Conclusions for the Circuit

The men brought the rivalry gravity, the women brought the ranking narrative, but across both events, the message echoed:

  • Fast-break guards change games (Szabo, Gemao, McGee)
  • Elite rebounders become transition-launching weapons (Zhu, Sow, Bryant, Salgado)
  • Home-floor depth + national ranking = a no-questions-asked statement (DME)

The Grind Session circuit now rolls deeper into the U.S. season with the next event in Owensboro Kentucky December 4-7.

Conference

Power Conference
Power Conference (W)
Elevation Conference
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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