Future NCAA and NBA Hoopers Playing in Atlanta This Weekend

Some of the nation’s top high school basketball stars are playing in Atlanta this weekend.

The Grind Session, the longest-running winter circuit of elite high school basketball events featuring top prospects from across the U.S. and Canada, is hosting a three-day showcase at Saint Francis School in Milton from Friday through Sunday.

To put into perspective how good the Grind Session is: over 3,000 of the circuit’s alumni have gone on to succeed at the collegiate and professional levels, with approximately 100 NBA players and more than 20 first-round NBA draft picks emerging from its ranks. That list includes recent NBA champions Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder).

This weekend’s event will feature 18 teams from eight states and Canada, 18 games, and several of the nation’s Top 100 prospects, according to the three major recruiting sites. Those prospects include:

• Toni Bryant (’26) — Zephyrhills Christian — ESPN #14
• Marcis Ponder (’26) — Gillion Academy — Rivals #53
• Willie Burnett III (’26) — Gillion Academy — Rivals #60
• Ryan Hampton (’27) — DME Academy — 247Sports #8

The action starts with six games on Friday, continues with nine games on Saturday, and concludes with three games on Sunday.

Here’s a link to the full schedule: https://x.com/thegrindsession/...

“We’re thrilled to bring the Grind Session circuit back to Atlanta,” said Grind Session co-founder Scott Waldrop. “Fans and scouts alike can expect three days of elite competition, next-generation talent, and unmatched energy as the future stars of basketball take the court to prove why they belong among the best in the game.”

Admission is $15 a day or $35 for a weekend pass. Kids age 6 and under are free.