RJ Melendez spent his junior (2019-2020) and senior (2020-2021) seasons of prep basketball with Central Pointe Christian (FL), before going on to play college basketball at Illinois (2021-2023), Georgia (2023-2024), and Mississippi State (2024-2025). He currently plays professionally for Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rico.
The global basketball spotlight turns to Nicaragua this week as the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 enters its quarterfinal stage—and among the talent competing are seven standout Grind Session alumni.
This year’s AmeriCup has showcased the incredible global reach and developmental impact of the Grind Session, with former players representing a range of national teams including Canada, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. Each has brought the competitive fire and skillset that defined their high school careers into the international arena.
