The Grind Session has struck a multi-year partnership with FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, that will expand and accelerate youth development in the United States and globally.
The new collaboration is highlighted by the sharing of resources, co-branded experiential activations, content production, and large-scale exchange initiatives. Other highlights of the partnership include co-branded youth development programs, elite showcase events, and FIBA inclusion in the Grind Session’s weekly events across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico from late November until early March.
“FIBA and the Grind Session share a common commitment to delivering unique memories and opportunities to youth basketball players and fans across the world,” said Executive Director of FIBA in the Americas, Carlos Alves. “This partnership will allow us to expand our Youth Development Program with great scale. Through some key activations we will give international players a pathway to playing in the USA and vice versa. This is an elite high school league, and we are honored to join the Grind Session as one of their key partners.”
Grind Session CEO Scott Waldrop added, “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with FIBA on this long-term, ground-breaking partnership. The Grind Session has achieved a lot and seen incredible development and expansion over the past several years. Now, the time has come to take the next step in seeing our circuit and sport reach new heights.”
The partnership announcement comes on the heels of the Grind Session’s historic 10th season that included 17 events and nearly 250 action-packed games across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The 2023-2024 season featured a long and impressive list of the nation’s top prospects, including Class of 2024 standouts Derrion Reid, Aiden Sherrell, Zoom Diallo, Jamari Phillips, and Emmanuel Stephen, as well as the consensus #1 prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes in AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes, respectively.
These hoopers look to become the latest of nearly 3,000 Grind Session players who have gone on to play collegiate or professional basketball. Some of the circuit’s more notable alumni include Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns), Paolo Banchero (Orlando magic), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), among numerous others.
“Over the course of the past 10 years, the Grind Session has made great strides in solidifying a presence on the North American hoops scene,” said Waldrop. “The launch of this new partnership is another step in our evolution as we continue to serve the elite prep landscape by helping the best compete against the best and pushing the boundaries of elite amateur sports.”
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