Deandre Ayton

The Star Alliance – an elite European collective featuring top-tier prospects from Italy’s Stella Azzurra and Orange1 Bassano – has been officially selected to compete in the upcoming 2025-2026 Grind Session season. This marks the first time a European team has joined the prestigious winter circuit of elite high school basketball events.

In addition to playing a full slate of games from late November until early March, The Star Alliance will host a Grind Session event in Europe. An exact place and date has yet to be determined.

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.

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.