AJ Dybantsa

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:

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:

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 best high school basketball players in the world took center stage on Saturday night at the Nike Hoop Summit. In the end, the Grind Session’s three participating stars in the men’s game – AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep) Mikel Brown, Jr. (DME Academy), and Ikenna Alozie (Dream City Christian) – lived up to their hype.

Dybantsa and Brown starred for Team USA, while Alozie impressed as a member of the World squad.

Team USA edged out the World team in a thrilling 124–114 overtime victory.

247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein announced Wednesday that Prolific Prep’s Darryn Peterson will finish as the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2025 when the final rankings come out in May. The Kansas commit will jump fellow Grind Session standout and Utah Prep star AJ Dybantsa for the top spot. 

Dybantsa has held the No. 1 ranking ever since he reclassified from the 2026 class back in October 2023.

Peterson began his senior season ranked as the No. 3 overall player behind Dybantsa and Duke-bound Cam Boozer, but he jumped Boozer in the last ranking update. Now, he’ll claim the top spot and finish his high school career as the No. 1 prospect in the class.

AJ Dybantsa, Mikel Brown Jr, Ikenna Alozie, Bella Hines, and Nyadieng Yiech to battle this weekend in the elite showcase of tomorrow's college, NBA/WNBA stars.

Five Grind Session stars have been named to the USA and World rosters for the 26th Nike Hoop Summit, which features a men's and women's game between the top high school seniors in the country and the best prospects from around the world.

The McDonald's All-American Game took center stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, showcasing the best high school basketball talent in the country. This year’s event was particularly special for The Grind Session, as four of its standout players were selected to compete in the prestigious game. AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep), Darryn Peterson (Prolific Prep), Niko Bundalo (Prolific Prep), and Mikel Brown Jr. (DME Sports Academy) all represented The Grind Session as part of the West team.

Four of the Grind Session’s biggest stars of this past season showcased their skills in front of a national audience Tuesday in the 2025 McDonald's All-American Game, leading the West team to a 105-92 victory over the East. Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Niko Bundalo, and Mikel Brown, Jr. score nearly half of the team’s points in 105–92 victory.

A quartet of Grind Session players will be competing in the McDonald's All-American Game on Tuesday night inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

AJ Dybantsa of Utah Prep, Darryn Peterson and Niko Bundalo of Prolific Prep, and Mikel Brown Jr. of DME Sports Academy will be on the West team's 12-player roster for the annual high school all-star game.

The game is scheduled to broadcast nationally on ESPN at 9:00 p.m.

Grind Session recently announced its men’s and women’s individual award winners and other honorees for the 2024-2025 season. Showcasing the strength and parity of the circuit, 23 different teams earned a place on the various listings and 10 programs saw themselves with at least one individual award winner.

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.

This past weekend, the Grind Session brought top-tier basketball talent to Atlanta for an electrifying three-day event featuring some of the best prep teams in North America. From thrilling comebacks to dominant individual performances, the competition was intense, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Here's a recap of the standout games and players from the event.

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.

First presented in 1987 and given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to high school basketball’s top male and female player, the award is named after James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education instructor best known for inventing the game of basketball. Previous winners include Kobe Bryant (1996), Lebron James (2003), Chris Webber (1991), Jason Kidd (1992), and Alonzo Mourning (1998), among other NBA superstars.

Top-ranked class of '25 recruits to lead their teams in marquee matchup of national powerhouses.

The two top-ranked high school basketball players in the 2025 recruiting class – AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson – will be taking center stage in Atlanta this weekend when they go head-to-head in a mid-season showdown of future NBA stars. The Grind Session hoopers play for Utah Prep and Prolific Prep respectively, the No. 8 and No. 7 teams in ESPN’s current national rankings.    

Grind Session Hawaii Day Two: Thrilling Final Matchups in Hilo

The second and final day of Grind Session Hawaii in Hilo delivered thrilling basketball action, highlighted by dominant performances from top talent and memorable moments for local fans.

In a groundbreaking decision, AJ Dybantsa, the standout player for Utah Prep and a projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, announced his commitment to BYU this morning on ESPN. Dybantsa chose the Cougars over basketball powerhouses Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas, citing a desire for a family-oriented program with NBA-experienced coaching.

"I was looking for a program that felt like home," Dybantsa said during his announcement. "BYU's coaching staff has the NBA experience I need to grow as a player, and the atmosphere here is unmatched."

Head coach Kevin Young, formerly with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, and his NBA-experienced staff were pivotal in Dybantsa's decision. Young’s reputation for player development and the program’s vision resonated deeply with the Massachusetts native.

The wait is nearly over for fans and college basketball programs eager to see where AJ Dybantsa, one of the most coveted high school basketball players in the nation, will take his talents next. Tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM EST, Dybantsa will reveal his choice live on ESPN’s First Take alongside host Stephen A. Smith.

Hailing from Brockton, Massachusetts, the 6’9”, 210-pound phenom is known for his versatility, sharp shooting, and defensive prowess, bolstered by a remarkable 7-foot wingspan. Currently playing for Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah, Dybantsa has narrowed his college choices to Alabama, North Carolina, BYU, and Kansas.

The highly anticipated matchup will take place on Saturday, December 7 at CFSB Center, home of the Murray State men's and women's basketball teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM (Eastern).

No. 1 AJ Dybantsa and No. 3 Darryn Peterson headline the marquee matchup

AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson will be taking center stage this weekend when two of the nation’s Top 10 high school mens’ basketball teams in Utah Prep (No. 4) and Prolific Prep (No. 8) go head-to-head during a Grind Session showcase in Murray, Kentucky.

The Grind Session, an elite winter circuit of high school basketball, brings together some of the best basketball talent from around the world. Running from November through March, the Grind Session hosts weekly events across the United States and Canada, featuring teams from three competitive conferences:

• Power Conference: The top 12 prep school teams in the USA.
• Revolution Conference: The premier women’s basketball programs.
• Evolution Conference: Teams fighting to break into the Power Conference next season.

Each event also invites local top teams to showcase their skills against Grind Session's elite competition.

Chicago Prep vs. Fort Erie International

The day started with a highly anticipated matchup as Chi-Prep squared off against Fort Erie International Academy. Ft. Erie International dominated the early morning showdown, defeating Chicago Prep 87-64. Sqder Servilus was a standout, leading Fort Erie with 22 points. Fort Erie maintained the lead throughout, pulling away late to secure a solid win. Owen Urquhart added 10 points and snagged a game-high 9 rebounds, fortifying the team’s control in the paint. For Chicago Prep, Mike Jones and Tristian Ford were the bright spots, putting up 31 and 28 points, respectively. Chicago Prep will aim to rebound as they prepare for a face-off with Minnesota Prep next Saturday in the Grind Session’s Miami event.

In his highly anticipated return to Boston, AJ Dybantsa showcased his skills on a familiar court, leading Utah Prep to a thrilling 79-71 victory over Highland (VA) at Emmanuel College in the latest Grind Session event. The matchup brought out fans from all over Boston eager to see Dybantsa, now a senior and a prominent figure in high school basketball, take the floor in his hometown.