As the Grind Session regular season comes to a close, all eyes turn to Salt Lake City, Utah, where the journey to crown the 2024-25 Grind Session World Champion begins. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place at Highland High School, setting the stage for a thrilling battle among the nation’s top prep basketball programs.
Prestigious event features the top 24 senior male and female Canadian high school basketball players.
The mens and womens rosters have been announced for the 10th annual All Canadian Basketball Games, and 14 Grind Session players have been selected to participate in the week of NBA-sanctioned events April 3-5, culminating in the mens and womens All-Star games.
Grind Session star Darryn Peterson of Prolific Prep has been named the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year.
The 2025 McDonald’s All-American and Kansas signee beat out Five-Star Plus+ small forward AJ Dybantsa, Five-Star Plus+ power forward Cam Boozer, Five-Star Plus+ SF Nate Ament and five-star point guard Darius Acuff for the illustrious award.
Peterson becomes the first ever Grind Session player to win the award, which began in 1987.
The Grind Session made its way to Napa this past weekend, with games held at Napa Valley College from February 28 to March 2. The weekend was all about Prolific Prep, the top-ranked team in the Grind Session Power Conference, standing at an impressive 13-0 record.
Utah Prep put on a show at The Grind Session event in Philadelphia this past weekend, securing two impressive victories behind the stellar play of AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa, the No. 1 player in the country according to ESPN’s Top 100, was named MVP in both games, leading his team to dominant performances.
The Grind Session is set to make its return to Napa Valley for the 20th event of the season, hosted by Prolific Prep. Currently leading the Power Conference with a perfect 13-0 record, Prolific Prep is in pursuit of an unprecedented Grind Session three-peat. Under the leadership of head coach Ryan Bernardi, the team has captured the last two Grind Session championships, and they are in prime position to secure a third consecutive title.
Philadelphia will be the epicenter of the high school basketball world this weekend when rising hoops superstar AJ Dybantsa headlines a three-day Grind Session showcase at School of the Future (4021 Parkside Avenue) from Friday through Sunday.
Ikenna Alozie of Nigeria has been named the Most Valuable Player of the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp 2025, held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The talented young Grind Session star from Dream City Christian High School in Glendale Arizona showcased his skills among 40 of the top high school players from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. He solidified his reputation as one of the elite prospects in his class. Heri Bukinga the 6'11" center from the Grind Session's DME Academy played alongside Ikenna in the event.
The Grind Session made its way to Washington, D.C., for an intense weekend of high school basketball action at Wise High School. Teams from across the U.S. and Canada battled it out, with standout performances and thrilling finishes marking each day.
Dream City Christian junior Emma Slack made history on February 1st, setting a new Grind Session record for three-pointers made in a single game. Playing on her home court in Glendale Arizona, Slack knocked down an astonishing 11 three-pointers, surpassing her own previous record of nine, which she set last season.
At 6'0", junior small forward Mackenzie Buckner is a standout player for Bella Vista Prep's women's basketball team in Arizona. Class of 2026, she also competes with the SW Premier club team in the off season.
Balancing academics, athletics, and motherhood, Buckner exemplifies dedication and resilience. She emphasizes the importance of time management and a strong support system in achieving her goals.
On the court, Buckner is known for her versatility, effectively playing both inside and outside positions. Her leadership and commitment make her a role model for aspiring athletes.
Grind Session stars AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Mikel Brown, Jr. have been named three of the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year award. They still have a month to make their case for the prestigious award, which will be presented to one winner on March 7, 2025.
In what might go down as one of the greatest high school basketball games of all time, Prolific Prep and Utah Prep Academy delivered an unforgettable battle at the Grind Session event in Atlanta. The two powerhouse programs met for the second time this season, and the game came down to a final heroic shot, as Prolific Prep secured a dramatic 88-86 victory.
