Prolific Prep, Utah Prep, and Dream City Christian considered early contenders to challenge for the national championship
BENTON, Ky. – Three Grind Session teams will begin the 2024-25 high school boys basketball campaign as early contenders for the national championship, having recently been ranked in the MaxPreps National Preseason Top 10.
Defending Grind Session World Champion Prolific Prep starts the season ranked No. 3, with Utah Prep, led by top-ranked senior prospect AJ Dybantsa, just three spots behind at No. 6. Dream City Christian rounds out the top 10.
Here’s the MaxPreps in-depth preview on each team:
3. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)
2023-24: 33-6, No. 4 in final National Top 10
Breakdown: A busy off-season saw the Crew lose the top prospects in the Class of 2025 and 2026 via transfer. However, the California power was able to replenish losses with an abundance of incoming talent headlined by No. 3-ranked senior prospect Darryn Peterson. Top 30 senior Niko Bundalo, top 100 senior Winters Grady, top 100 junior Seven Spurlock and a pair of top 10 sophomore prospects in Obinna Ekezie and Gabe Nesmith fill out a strong supporting cast.
6. Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah)
2023-24: 20-10, unranked
Breakdown: Utah Prep is a bit of an unknown on the national stage but gaining the services of top-ranked senior prospect A.J. Dybantsa is expected to elevate the program to new heights. Dybantsa headlines a roster that returns top 60 senior J.J. Mandaquit, top 100 senior Anthony Felesi and under-the-radar big man Guystone Kasenga. Other key additions to the roster include seniors Jaden Vance and Idaho pledge Jackson Rasmussen.
10. Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)
2023-24: 29-6, unranked
Breakdown: Top 10 junior prospect Ikenna Alozie is expected to again be the catalyst for a program that has compiled a record of 62-11 over the past two seasons. Along with Alozie, Utah State commit Brayden Boe, Colorado pledge Jalin Holland, three-star senior Alejandro Aviles, three-star Colorado-bound Fawaz Ifaola and top 40 sophomore Chris Brown are the players to watch for a team in search of its first Chipotle Nationals berth.
Each of the teams also feature one player in this year’s Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team. They are:
• A.J. Dybantsa, Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah)
6-9 | Wing | Senior (2025) | Uncommitted
Top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025 averaged 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game to lead Prolific Prep (33-6) to the No. 4 spot in the final National Top 10. The prolific scorer will spend his senior year at his third different school in the past three years.
• Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)
6-5 | Guard | Senior (2025) | Committed to Kansas
Following a strong individual season that saw him average 24 points, six rebounds and four assists per game, Peterson earned third team MaxPreps Junior All-America honors in his lone season at Huntington Prep. The five-star prospect is expected to be the catalyst for a talented Crew unit.
• Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)
6-3 | Guard | Junior (2026) | Uncommitted
Five-star prospect averaged 24.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals per outing to help the Eagles (29-7) reach the Grind Session tournament championship game. Dream City Christian begins the season ranked No. 10 in the National Top 10 behind Alozie.
