The 2024-2025 Grind Session season is set to officially tip off in Denver November 1-3, but before we get to that action, 11 teams will compete in a Play-In Tournament to earn the last spot in the circuit’s Power Conference.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Power Conference and its play-in tournament setup, including matchups, when and where it’s happening, and how it works.
What is the Grind Session Power Conference?
Anchored by 12 teams, the Grind Session’s Power Conference offers the largest collection of elite boys prep basketball programs from the United States and Canada. This year’s group of teams will feature more than 20 players ranked in the top 100 of the ’25, ’26 and ’27 classes, including Utah Prep’s A.J. Dybantsa, the consensus number one prospect in the senior class.
“Since 2014, the Grind Session and its institutions have made great strides in solidifying a presence on the national hoops scene. This conference allows us to continue to serve the elite prep landscape in a unique way by helping the best compete against the best and pushing the boundaries of elite amateur sports,” said Grind Session CEO Scott Waldrup. “We’re extremely excited to kick off the season in true Grind Session fashion with a high-stakes weekend tournament that will no doubt set the tone for a truly amazing 2024-2025 season.”
11 of this season’s Power Conference teams have already been confirmed. They include:
- Prolific Prep (Napa, CA)
- Dream City Christian (Glendale, AZ)
- Utah Prep (Hurricane, UT)
- Balboa School (Clearwater, FL)
- Academy of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
- DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL)
- Fort Erie International (Fort Erie, ON, Canada)
- Accelerated Prep (Denver, CO)
- Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, AZ)
- Royal Crown School (Toronto, ON, Canada)
What is the Power Conference Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will feature single-elimination games where 11 teams from 10 states will face off in a do-or-die situation. The losing teams will be eliminated from contention, while the winners will move on to the next round with hopes of securing the 12th and final spot in the Power Conference.
The tournament is set to take place October 3-5 at Christian County High School in Hopkinsville, KY.
The 11 teams battling for the final spot are:
- Colorado Prep (CO)
- Iowa United (IA)
- MN Prep (MN)
- Quality Education (NC)
- Rosemary Anderson (OR)
- SFBA Trinity Prep (NV)
- St. John’s DME (WI)
- Victory Rock Prep (FL)
- Wesley Christian (KY)
- West Oaks (FL)
- Wilson Academy (GA)
What’s the Play-In Tournament schedule?
Thursday, October 3
- Game #1 (11:30 a.m. ET): Wesley Christian (KY) vs. Victory Rock Prep (FL)
- Game #2 (1:00 p.m. ET) – Rosemary Anderson (OR) vs. Quality Education (NC)
- Game #3 (2:30 p.m. ET) – Minnesota Prep (MN) vs. Wilson Academy (GA)
- Game #4 (4:00 p.m. ET) – SFBA Trinity Prep (NV) vs. St. John’s DME (WI)
- Game #5 (5:30 p.m. ET) – Iowa United (IA) vs. G1 Winner
- Game #6 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Colorado Prep (CO) vs. G2 Winner
Friday, October 4
- Game #7 (2:30 p.m. ET) – West Oaks (FL) vs. G3 Winner
- Game #8 (4:00 p.m. ET) – G4 Winner vs. G5 Winner
- Game #9 (7:00 p.m. ET) – G6 Winner vs. G7 Winner
Saturday, October 5
- Game #10 (1:00 p.m. ET) – G8 Winner vs. G9 Winner
How do I watch the Play-In Tournament?
All games can be watched live on Tanager Sports.
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