The Grind Session Toronto Standouts

Style of Play:

The Grind Session is an event that attracts a lot of high school talent, who get to show what they can do against some of the best competition. In this tournament, most teams played a very fast pace and space style of offense, getting up and down the floor quickly with either the transition ball-handler getting all the way to the rim or to his spot for a dribble pull-up shot, or the leak-out player getting looks created by their teammates for catch and shoot pull-up threes or shots in the paint. In the half-court, the teams with an effective guard and center ran a different style of play using a pick and roll offense, while other teams didn't have the luxury of doing so. Some teams had skilled stretch bigs who were more of a perimeter presence than an interior physical presence so those teams would run more pick and pop rather than have the big rolling to the rim. Many teams had the guard play in the half-court creating a lot of constant drive and kick and dribble penetration on possessions, collapsing the defense and finding catch and shoot three-point shooters or cutters. The teams with non-physical bigs would play more out of the high post and set things up from there, while the teams with more size would use their size to their advantage and post up on the smaller defender.

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Standouts Players:

DJ Smith

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 11 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

DJ Smith is a skilled modern big who can score in many ways. He operates in the post with a turnaround shot, elevating and shooting over smaller defenders with good touch and a high release point, which is his main go-to shot. He also executes a step-through with good footwork and finishes inside, which is his secondary shot. He is effective as pick and roll and pick and pop threat. He sets good hard picks, understands screening angles, and absorbs contact with the defender, which are the little things that high school players usually struggle with. He frees up his pick and roll ball-handler and forces switches into favorable matchups where the pick and roll ball-handler can attack and take advantage of. When setting picks he communicates with the pick and roll ball-handlers and guards to ensure they are on the same page with their execution. When looking to score he is more of a pick and pop threat from mid-range and three-point range than a roller to the rim. He can put the ball on the floor, attack a closeout, and get to a dribble pull-up mid-range shot. He is an active cutter and doesn't get stagnant, creating offensive opportunities through his own off-ball movement. He can execute a variety of cuts cutting backdoor, from the top of the key, or flash cuts to get a mid-range shot.

He is an aggressive rebounder, crashes the glass, grabs rebounds out of his zone, and grabs tough contested rebounds through traffic. In transition, he follows his teammate's misses and cleans it up converting it into putback second-chance points.

On the defensive end, he is a rim protector. He uses his length and size to force tough contested shots or break up passes at the rim. As a shot blocker, he is disciplined, jumping straight up vertically without fouling and times shots well. He is also an effective post up defender by walling up in the post, not giving up deep post positioning, and having a strong upper body, making it tough to back him down and get a quality look at the rim. He is quick to get back in transition, forcing the transition player into a tougher shot than they initially would have, or he fouls them hard making them earn it at the free-throw line.

Jayonni Durrough

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jayonni Durrough is a big shot creating guard and the primary ball-handler. He shows the potential to be a three-level scorer with his ability to create his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He creates a good amount of separation from the defender with a step-back jump shot. He is an inside-out player with his aggressiveness attacking the rim to set the tone and then expanding his range as the game moves on and opposing teams key in on him as a driver. In the half-court, he has a quick and explosive first step to blow by defenders and the size, frame, and strength to shield them. He can get to the free-throw line, convert them at a high rate, and finish through contact. Despite being best with the ball in his hand, he isn't a ball-dominant guard and can be effective playing off the ball when needed. He can operate as a catch and shoot three-point threat, cuts, and give and go actions. He relocates along the three-point line and finds the open space. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics.

He can play in transition as a ball-handler and leak-out man at a slow controlled pace. His ability to rebound and push the ball forward allows his team to have more numbers in transition and players leaking out rather than a big grabbing a rebound and having to get him the ball. He can also involve teammates and create looks for them on drive and kicks. When he gets deep into the paint, he looks to finish and get to the free-throw line rather than setting teammates up, so his drive and kicks are more from the top of the key when he doesn't get deep in the paint.

Beckham Black

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 4 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Beckham Black is a big guard who is effective attacking the rim. The combination of his ability to change speed and direction, play at his own pace comfortably without getting sped up, and use his body to shield off defenders and keep them behind him or on his hip makes it hard for defenders to stay in front of him. He is aggressive attacking the rim and is always looking to get into the paint as his main source of offense. The combination of his aggressiveness, rim pressure, and size and strength allows him to absorb contact, draw fouls, and get to the free-throw line. Later in the game after he does his damage in the paint he can step out and knock down catch and shoot three-pointers and three-pointers off the dribble. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics on his three-point shot. When shooting off the dribble he can create separation from the defender with a step-back jumper. When teams were putting more physical, athletic, and lengthy defenders on him, he played more as a pick and roll ball-handler, creating his shot effectively off the dribble. He is quick and decisive coming around picks and getting to his spots, or he can also reject the pick and play one on one. He didn't get many opportunities to operate off the ball, but he was effective when doing it.

He is a facilitator on the offensive end and a high-level playmaker by knowing the spots his teammates operate in, putting them in a position to succeed, and elevating their game. He has a good balance of looking to score and involving his teammates. He is vocal, calling out plays and being a loud communicator on the court, displaying vocal leadership and showing his point guard mentality as he orchestrates the offense. He can make passes in the pick and roll, transition, off drive and kick and dribble penetration, and execute tough cross court passes in the half-court or find cutters with an accurate lob pass. In transition, he pushes the pace with a run and gun high-octane offense, finding his catch and shoot three-point shooters or the leak-out man. On drive and kick and dribble penetration he gets deep in the paint, attracts multiple defenders, and kicks it out to open three-point shooters for high percentage uncontested threes. In the pick and roll, he is quick to find the pick and roll man with a pocket pass allowing him to be a catalyst in executing quick pick and roll offense.

On the defensive end, he has good length, which he uses to anticipate and disrupt passes by playing the passing lanes well, allowing him to create offense from his defensive position, whether he is looking to push the pace to score or set up teammates. Opposing teams struggle to execute passes through his length, especially on inbound passes. He is quick fighting through picks, has the physicality to get through them, and moves well laterally allowing him to stay with the pick and roll ball-handler which limits the number of switches and help defense he needs.

CJ Rosser Jr.

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

CJ Rosser Jr. is one of the most skilled players at the Grind Session, being a modern big with guard skills. He operates in transition pushing the pace as a ball-handler or being a rim runner on leak-outs. As a ball-handler, he has a tight handle for his size and has big strides, allowing him to get all the way to the rim without much resistance or go into a dribble pull-up. On leak-outs, he is quick and explosive running the floor and outrunning the opposing team to get high-percentage dunks and layups. He has good hands and is a lob threat. He is an athletic above the rim finisher with the potential for NBA level athleticism. On the offensive end, he is a three-level scorer, creating his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He gets to his spot effectively and has the size to elevate and shoot over smaller defenders. As an off-ball player, he uses his mobility to slip picks and get to the open space for a catch and shoot three-pointer. He is fluid at his size coming around off-ball screens and pindowns to get to his spot in the mid-range. He can operate as a backdoor cutter off the ball. He can also operate in the post as a turnaround shooter with touch and footwork rather than backing up the defender and going to a hook shot.

On the offensive end he is a threat grabbing extra possessions and second-chance opportunities and on the defensive end he limits them for opposing teams. His size and length give him a massive advantage in rebounding the ball. He jumps really high for rebounds, keeps the ball high, and grab tough contested rebounds through traffic and crowds.

On defense, he is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He shows flashes of being a switchable defender. He moves his feet well enough and is strong and physical enough to stay in front of guards, making it hard for them to get their shot off. He is strong enough to defend against physical bigs in the post, walling up without giving up deep post positioning and getting backed down. He can also anticipate and get into passing lanes with his long arms and length. He is quick on rotations and closing out on three-point shooters, which gives him the qualities to be a small ball 5 in spurts. He is quick getting back in transition and doesn't allow easy transition opportunities for opposing teams blocking shots or using his length to alter them. He has timing, instincts, and he covers a lot of ground when blocking shots. A minor improvement area for him on the defensive end is being more disciplined and avoiding baiting into shot fakes, which get him up in the air and off-balance.

Brian Angeletti

Position: PF/C

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

Team: The Star Alliance

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Brian Angeletti runs the floor well as a rim running big. He is quick and explosive in transition making it hard for opposing teams bigs to keep up with the pace he plays at. He has good hands and is a lob threat. He is also stretch big making threes on volume in catch and shoot scenarios as a pick and pop threat, off dribble penetration and drive and kick, and in transition leaking out and finding the open space. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics, giving him the foundation to be an intriguing shooter in the future. When he draws closeouts with him being a shooting threat he can use shot fakes to get the defender up in the air and off-balance, put the ball on the floor, and get to the rim with a tight enough handle. He is a player who shoots impressively from the free-throw line displaying a good routine, poise, and touch. He can be a threat in the low post having the physical tools to get deep post positioning. His go-to shot in the post is a hook shot over smaller defenders, which he can finish over both shoulders. He has the mobility to spin off defenders and get to the rim which is rare for someone his size.

He attracted double teams in the post, where he could make passes to the open man, whether it was a cutter or a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He can also initiate dribble handoffs and handoffs that give a shooter a good look from three-point range.

On the defensive end, he is an interior presence. He doesn't necessarily block shots because he's not a quick jumper, but he uses his length to contest and alter shots in the paint. He is quick to get back in transition and limits easy fast-break opportunities for opposing teams. He shows a maturity beyond his age not getting down on himself when he makes mistakes on the offensive end and displays a next play mentality. He has timing, instincts, discipline, the ability to jump straight up without fouling, and he covers a lot of ground as a shot blocker. He is a high-level post up defender. He doesn't allow deep post positioning and doesn't get backed down in the post. He denies entry passes and makes sure the post-up player catches the ball and operates far from the basket.

Ricards Aizpurs

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: The Star Alliance

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Ricards Aizpurs is a guard with a strong frame and broad shoulders, which he uses to his advantage when driving to the rim and seeking mismatches. He rebounds the ball well and pushes the pace as a ball-handler in transition to get all the way to the rim or take dribble pull-up threes. He has a tight handle, changes speed and direction, and plays at his own pace making it tough for defenders to contain him. He can be a trail guy in transition getting catch and shoot pull-up three-pointers. His aggressiveness constantly getting to the rim and deep in the paint makes him a threat to draw fouls and put the opposing team in foul trouble. When shooting threes he has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. In the half-court, he is the primary ball-handler and pick and roll player where he gets to his spots effectively. As a pick and roll player he attacks the rim and scores in the paint, gets to his spot for a dribble pull-up threes, or uses it to initiate drive and kick passes for his teammates. When attacking the rim, he is a crafty finisher with good footwork and big strides, making up for his lack of athleticism. He can navigate pressure well splitting hedges and double teams as they come his way. He is a clutch scorer and one of his team's go-to scorers late in games when they need a basket. He is very decisive and has a poise and calmness to him at the end of games.

As a drive and kick passer, he attracts multiple defenders and collapses the defense setting his teammates up for high-percentage quality looks. He can find the open man, is a willing passer, and makes quick decisions. Being a bigger guard, he can play back to the basket, get deep post positioning, and create looks for his teammates with crosscourt passes when attracting double teams or help defense, or overpower smaller guards and finish inside with footwork and touch. In transition, as a passer he can find his rim running big and throw accurate lob passes to catch and finish.

He is a scrappy defender. He navigates through picks and moves well laterally through them. If he gets stuck on picks he can recover and get back into the possession to force a tougher contested shot using his length and size against smaller guards.

Jacob Canton

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Jacob Canton is a combo guard who thrives utilizing his athleticism in the open court. He can operate in transition as a ball-handler and on leak-outs. He pushes the pace in transition after grabbing a defensive rebound, not breaking stride or slowing down, allowing his team to play at the fast pace they try to implement. On leak-outs, he is quick, explosive, and fills the lanes well allowing him to outrun the other team. He is aggressive looking to play with an attack mentality going to the rim and putting a lot of pressure on the rim. He can absorb contact, finish through it, and get to the free-throw line as a straight-line driver. He can be an athletic above the rim finisher or an acrobatic finisher with body control. He showed flashes of creating his own shot as an isolation player in the half-court. He can create separation from the defender with a step-back jumper. When creating off the dribble, he can have a flat shot lacking backspin as the game moves on and he gets fatigued. Off the dribble, he is best attacking the rim and using his quick explosive first step to blow by his matchup. He can play off the ball moving along the three-point line and relocating making it exhausting for defenders to chase him around. He is not only a standstill shooter in catch and shoot scenarios but can also be a movement shooter with the good balance and footwork he displays to get into that shot. His off-ball play is an intriguing skillset, showing he can play well with good players around him. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and lift and elevation getting his shot off over defenders when they closeout on him.

He can get teammates quality looks as a passer on drive and kick and off dribble penetration. He gets deep in the paint, attracts multiple defenders, and collapses the defense allowing him to set up teammates for catch and shoot three-pointers.

On the defensive end, he fights through picks, moves well laterally, shows defensive lateral quickness, and maintains a low base. He anticipates and gets into passing lanes for steals and deflections, sparking fast-break opportunities and creating offense from his defense. His improvement areas are being more decisive when attacking closeouts; his indecision between shooting and driving leads to turnovers. He also needs to be a more willing passer, as he sometimes takes tough contested shots rather than setting up his teammates.

Jasiah Cannady

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jasiah Cannady is a scoring guard and shot maker. He shows flashes of being a three-level scorer creating his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He creates separation from defenders with a step-back jumper. He has quickness, explosiveness, and shiftiness with his first step to blow by defenders and get downhill on straight-line drives. When matched against size and length, he finds ways to avoid getting his shot blocked and gets his shot over the defender's length by contorting his body. His aggressiveness driving to the rim and creating bumps gets him to the free-throw line at a high rate where he can convert on easy points. He thrives in transition leaking out and as a ball-handler getting all the way to the rim and outrunning the opposing team. He can also take catch and shoot pull up threes in transition. When finishing inside the paint, he has good footwork and is a crafty finisher allowing him to navigate tight spaces and get around defenders when opposing defenses crowd the paint. He is a streaky scorer either scoring in bunches or missing in bunches. To be a higher-level and more efficient scorer, he needs to improve his shot selection and take fewer tough contested shots off the dribble.

He is the primary point guard for his team and has a point guard mentality being vocal on the court, directing the offense, and telling teammates where to be and what to do, which displays his vocal leadership. He is the primary pick and roll option as a ball-handler making passes to the pick and pop threat setting them up for quality looks or using picks to initiate drive and kick and dribble penetration to collapse the defense and find shooters.

He is a go-to scorer and clutch shot maker. He made many tough clutch shots off the dribble late in games, both as a pick and roll ball-handler and on isolations.

On defense, he takes a back seat at times to prioritize offense. He has shown flashes of moving his feet well laterally and going through picks on the defensive end. He can get overaggressive, pressuring the ball and playing up high, which can cause him to commit fouls at times.

Promis N'Landu

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Fort Erie International Academy

Class: 2026

Committed to George Washington University

Promis N'Landu is a guard who is aggressive getting downhill and attacking the rim. He can operate on isolations using his quick and explosive first step to blow by his matchup. He can operate in pick and rolls getting around the pick quickly and taking advantage of switches and mismatches or rejecting the ball-screen. He can finish with both hands and attack on both sides. He can change speed and direction to complement his speed and explosiveness making it hard for defenders to stay in front of him. He can start drives fast and slow down as he gets to the rim or start drives slow and explode to the rim as he gets closer. He plays at his own pace and doesn't get sped up. He can do a combination of being a straight-line driver to the rim and use craftiness and footwork in the paint to navigate around defenders. He is strong absorbing contact, finishing through it, and getting to the free-throw line. He isn't ball-dominant and doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact. He moves well without the ball along the three-point line, finds the open space, and relocates for catch and shoot three-pointers or he is in the right positions on scrambles after offensive rebounds to get high-quality catch and shoot threes. He is Fort Erie's go-to scorer late in games. He isn't afraid of the moment and gets more aggressive, hunting down his shot in crunch time as the game moves on in the second half.

He can create looks for his teammates with passes on drive and kick and dribble penetration, crosscourt passes in the half-court, and in transition finding the leak-out man. With his scoring ability, teams became more aggressive with their defensive coverages on him sending double teams, hedges, and blitzes when he was the pick and roll ball-handler. An improvement area for him in this situation is making quicker decisions and improving his ability to pass through length and traffic.

He is a high-level defender. He creates offense from his defense, anticipating and getting into passing lanes. He fights through picks, moves well laterally through them, and shows defensive lateral quickness. He is quick on rotations and closing out on three-point shooters using his length to force them into a tough contested shot. He is defensively sound and has discipline closing out without jumping into the shooter and fouling. He can pick up ball-handlers from the backcourt and be physical with them as they advance the ball, wearing them out.

Eli Jolin

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

Team: Fort Erie International Academy

Class: 2026

Committed to Santa Clara University

Eli Jolin is a forward who thrives running the floor in transition on leak-outs. He is quick, explosive, fluid for his size, and he fills the lanes well allowing him to outrun other teams and get high-percentage easy fast-break points. He is an athletic above the rim finisher. He can push the pace in transition and get downhill with an effective tight handle at his size, showcasing his guard skills. He is crafty executing stop and go moves and step-throughs with good footwork and balance. He plays at a slow controlled pace when attacking the rim. His ability to get deep into the paint, attract multiple defenders, and collapse the defense allows him to operate in drive and kick situation and off dribble penetration, where he finds teammates. He moves well without the ball by backdoor cutting to the rim or by constantly moving along the three-point line. He has quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and a high release point shooting over others on catch and shoot threes. He doesn't have deep range from three potentially making him a more inconsistent shooter as he moves up to the next level and deals with a further three-point line.

He is an aggressive rebounder crashing the glass and rebounding out of his zone, showcasing his effort and motor. On putbacks, he is an extremely athletic finisher and comes out of nowhere to get them.

Defensively, he is quick to get back in transition and forces a tougher shot rather than giving uncontested layups or dunks at the rim. He can stay in front of guys his size with good defensive positioning and contest their shots at the rim without fouling. He has the intangibles from a teammate perspective being a great teammate picking guys up and encouraging them.

Kymani Walters

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: Royal Crown

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Kymani Walters is a player who likes to push the pace in transition either as a ball-handler or a leak-out man. As a ball-handler, he is quick and explosive with long strides for his size allowing him to get all the way to the rim. He is in attack mode in transition and looks to convert on easy fast-break points. His ability to grab defensive rebounds and push the pace is vital for Royal Crown to play at the fast pace they like. He is a combination of an athletic above the rim finisher on some possessions and a crafty finisher with good footwork to navigate around the defense when they send multiple bodies into the paint. In the half-court, he can operate with the ball in his hands and off the ball. As a ball-handler, he can blow by defenders and get all the way to the rim. He is able to feel the contact, absorb it, and get to the free-throw line as he drives to the rim where he converts free-throws at a high rate. He moves well without the ball along the three-point line or cutting backdoor to the rim. As a backdoor cutter, he hesitates slightly when moving without the ball, which throws defenders off-balance, and he has the quickness and explosiveness to blow by the off-ball defender and get into the paint. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics on catch and shoot threes. He has a knack for being an offensive rebounder for his size and for converting putback dunks as a guard. He jumps high for rebounds and can grab them through traffic.

The situations he excels at as a passer are drive and kick and dribble penetration, transition, and pick and roll. On drive and kick and dribble penetration, he can get deep into the paint, attract multiple defenders, collapse the defense, and kick it out for a catch and shoot three-pointer. In transition, he can either find the leak-out man or get into the paint and do a dump-off pass to the big after attracting a crowd in the paint. In the pick and roll, he is quick to find the big rolling to the rim and set them up for a high-percentage shot inside.

He is an active defender picking up ball-handlers from the backcourt, applying resistance, and making it tough for them to cross the half-court line. He can anticipate getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections or using his quick, strong, and active hands to poke the ball away, creating offense and transition opportunities from his defense. When defending the pick and roll ball handler, he is communicative and loud on the floor calling for switches or going through them. He is quick and has the defensive lateral quickness to fight through picks.

Andy Gemao

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 0 Inches

Team: Royal Crown

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Andy Gemao is a guard who is a slasher and an aggressive attacker in the paint. He is looking to get into the paint and break down the defense, whether it is in transition as a ball-handler and on leak-outs or in the half-court on isolations and pick and roll. His ability to grab defensive rebounds allows him to push the pace and bring the ball up as a ball-handler, speeding up his team's tempo. He has a quick and explosive first step to blow by defenders. He plays with pace, changing speed and direction when bringing the ball up, making it hard for other defenders to stay in front of him. He is more of a straight-line driver but has shown flashes of being a crafty finisher with good footwork to get around defenders when the paint gets crowded. He can go through bodies and is an acrobatic finisher in the paint. He is stronger than he looks, so he can use his strength to absorb contact, draw fouls, and get to the free-throw line. He is someone who started seeing tough coverages, where he was being picked up full-court and matched up with all kinds of physicality, size, and athleticism to try to slow him down. He adjusted and operated more as a pick and roll ball-handler in these situations where his big freed him up to get to his spots. At times, his downside is that he can get overzealous and out of control, pushing the pace and playing fast, which makes his handle way looser, resulting in turnovers or lost body control at the rim. He isn't a volume three-point shooter, but when teams want to take away his drives, he has shown a willingness to take and make them with a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics.

He can set up teammates off dribble penetration and drive and kick either for three-point shots or finding the big inside with a dump-off pass. He makes athletic passes in mid-air to offset the pressure and length he matches up against.

On the defensive end, he is quick on rotations and closing out on three-point shooters, limiting the good looks they get from three-point range.