Denver to kickoff 2024-2025 'The Grind Session' featuring top high school basketball players
KDVR Fox 31
DENVER (KDVR) — The world of high school basketball has changed significantly over time. What was once the small prospect of playing for your neighborhood team and trying to get into the eyes of college scouts has turned into something of a basketball TV show.
High school prospects now have thousands to millions of people watching their highlights and virality follows them. This new culture has created so many different opportunities for high school players and one such opportunity to display their skills can come in the form of competing in "The Grind Session."
Denver will be the starting point of this year's rendition of The Grind Session which will be a three-day showcase featuring some of the most elite high school basketball players in North America. The Grind Session will take place from Nov.1 to Nov. 3.
The Grind Session stated that over 3,000 players who have participated in the circuit have gone on to play collegiate or professional basketball. More than 20 of those professional players were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Notable alumni include:
- Jamal Murray — Denver Nuggets
- Jayson Tatum — Boston Celtics
- LaMelo Ball — Charlotte Hornets
- DeAndre Ayton — Portland Trailblazers
- Paolo Banchero — Orlando Magic
- Jalen Green — Houston Rockets
This year the circuit will host 24 teams from 11 states and Canada who will play 24 games.
There will be six schools from Colorado competing in the boy's side which include Denver's Accelerated Prep, Manual, Denver East and Thornton.
Featured among the athletes playing are a handful of ESPN's Top 100-rated prospects.
Boy's side
- AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep — Class of 2025 #1 prospect
- JJ Mandaquit, Utah Prep — Class of 2025 #47 prospect
- Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian — Class of 2026 #12 prospect
Girl's side
- Bella Hines, Albuquerque Prep — Class of 2025 #29 prospect
- Sania Richardson, Grind Prep — Class of 2025 #86 prospect
- Oliviyah Edwards, Elite Prep — Class of 2026 #4 prospect
- De'Andra Minor, Grind Prep — Class of 2027 #10 prospect
The Grind Session will be an opportunity to see some of the most talented players and teams in North America and will be an exciting opportunity for local Colorado high school programs to see how they stack up against these highly rated hoopers.