Portland, OR – April 12, 2025
The 2025 Nike Hoops Summit lit up the Moda Center—home of the Portland Trail Blazers—with an unforgettable night of elite-level basketball and standout performances by some of Grind Session’s brightest stars. This year’s event saw five Grind Session athletes take the court, representing both the USA and World teams across the boys’ and girls’ games.
Grind Session Dominance in Record-Breaking Boys’ Game
In front of a buzzing crowd, the boys’ game tipped off first—and right from the opening play, it was clear that AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep) came ready to lead. Driving strong to the rim just seconds after tipoff, Dybantsa scored the game’s first basket and completed the and-one to ignite the USA squad. He continued to dominate throughout, finishing with a game-high 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, steering the USA team to a historic 124-114 overtime victory.
Mikel Brown Jr. (DME Academy) added firepower of his own with 17 points in the win, helping the USA team gain control early despite a first-quarter rally from the World Team that tied things up at 22 apiece. By halftime, the USA team had reasserted themselves, heading to the locker room up 53-44.
“We didn’t like our matchups defensively, so we made a few switches,” USA head coach Frank Bennett said. “Then we just refocused and challenged our guys to move the ball. One pass per shot or dribbling six times—that’s easy to guard. We had to play smarter.”
The game made history as both the highest-scoring Nike Hoop Summit ever and the first to go to overtime. After the World Team stormed back from a 12-point deficit with under four minutes to play, tying it up with a furious 14–2 run, the USA team dug deep and closed the door in OT.
Representing the World Team, Ikenna Alozie (Dream City Christian) gave a strong all-around performance with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The rising star will return to lead Dream City Christian under Coach Kyle Weaver in next season’s Grind Session, starting this October.
Both Dybantsa and Brown Jr. are set for bright futures. Dybantsa, ESPN’s No. 1 ranked player all year, is headed to BYU next season, having secured one of the largest NIL deals in history valued at $7 million. Brown Jr. will take his talents to Louisville, where he’ll be a major addition to the Cardinals’ backcourt.
World Girls Show Grit in Competitive Battle
In only the third-ever Nike Hoop Summit women’s game, the World Team brought intensity and energy—but ultimately fell to a deep and talented USA team, 90-78.
Grind Session was proudly represented on the women’s World Team by Bella Hines (Albuquerque Prep) and Nyadieng Yiech (Ft. Erie). Hines, a future LSU Tiger, played a solid game with 4 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds while making a key defensive play by drawing a charge in the first half. Yiech chipped in 8 points and 4 rebounds in the loss, showing her scoring ability and inside presence.
The USA women’s team featured a balanced attack, led by Jasmine Davidson who put up 17 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in a spectacular all-around effort. Sienna Betts added 16 points, while Emilee Skinner scored 13.
Grind Session Impact Continues to Grow
The presence of five Grind Session players at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit—three in the boys’ game and two in the girls’—is a testament to the league’s growing influence in elite prep basketball. With stars like Dybantsa, Brown Jr., and Alozie leading the way, and Hines and Yiech competing on the international stage, Grind Session continues to be the proving ground for the game’s next generation.
The future of basketball runs through Grind Session—and the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit proved that once again.
