Grind Session's Power Play-In Tournament Standouts
I had the pleasure of once again attending the Grind Session Power Play-In Tournament; here are the players who stood above the rest at the event.
This past weekend, I was in attendance for the 2025 Grind Session Power Play-In Tournament in Hopkinsville, KY, an event that featured some of the nation’s top talent competing for a spot in the Grind Session’s power conference. Last year, this tournament gave us our first stateside look at Iowa United Prep’s Arafan Diane, who at the time was an unranked prospect, and who is now the top-ranked center in the country. I’m not sure if I spotted any off-the-radar guys who could make that leap this year, but there was still plenty of talent in attendance. Today, I want to cover a handful of players who stood out above the rest, some of whom will be lacing up for some of the top college programs in the country next season.
Toni Bryant – 6’9” 215lbs – Power Forward – Class of 2026 – Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Five-star Missouri commit Toni Bryant was by far the most dominant player in the tournament, putting together two fantastic performances in the games of his I was able to watch. Not only did he dominate, but he did so despite rarely having the ball in his hands. Instead, operating within the flow of the offense and making an impact with his ancillary traits. He proved why he’s already prepared to contribute at the collegiate level, as he quickly emerged as the best player on the court in both games despite not being the primary focal point of Zephyrhills’ offense.
Bryant is an athletic 6’9” (maybe 6’10”, according to a few outlets) power forward with a pro-ready frame. Despite being a true forward, he possesses a skillset that allows him to play different roles throughout a game, which he did during this tournament. For the most part, he operates as an off-ball mover, setting screens and offering connective passing. However, when he is given the ball in a position to score, he’s able to quickly shift his objective toward the basket, utilizing agile footwork and impressive strength to impose his will inside. He’s a solid soft-touch finisher, consistently converting on off-angle layups, hook and push shots, and floaters. Where he’s at his best is finishing above the rim, via both his own self-created dunk opportunities as well as lobs.
Defensively, he was by far the best interior defender I saw throughout the tournament. His length and athleticism allow him to swat shots that otherwise would be difficult to reach, and even when he isn’t picking up blocks, his presence alone is a major deterrent for opposing drivers. He moves incredibly well laterally for his position, which allows him to switch onto smaller opponents on the perimeter as well as recover for blocks both as a primary and secondary defender. While I doubt he’ll serve as a primary rim protector against SEC competition, he projects to be a fluid and switchable defender and an elite secondary rim protector (which is incredibly scary considering he’ll be suiting up alongside 7’5” center Trent Burns).
What makes him a high-end NBA Draft prospect is his skill ceiling, which is far higher than most of his contemporaries. This was on full display throughout this tournament. On occasion, he would bring the ball up the floor for Zephyrhills, operating as the team’s offensive hub, opening up the floor for his teammates via his passing abilities and scoring gravity. He showcased his ability to step beyond the arc and knock down the three, converting 3/7 of his long-range attempts in the two games I watched. If he can become a more consistent shooter while strengthening his already solid passing skills, I could see his offensive ceiling being a major discussion point come his eventual declaration for the draft.
All in all, Bryant showcased everything I wanted to see from him coming into the weekend. He further cemented himself as the two-way weapon we already knew him to be, while also showcasing some skills that have yet to be entirely cemented as major aspects of his game. I was happy to see him willing to play his role and not be his team’s full-time focal point, something that I think bolstered his teammates’ effectiveness throughout the event. Once he gets to Missouri, he will likely not be the team’s go-to scoring threat, which is why it’s so important that he builds positive off-ball habits while he’s still in high school. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him throughout his senior season and can confidently say that Missouri fans should be more than excited about adding him to next year’s freshman class.
Noah George – 6’4” 170lbs – Shooting Guard – Class of 2026 – CIA Bella Vista
I must admit, when I decided to attend this tournament, I was under the assumption that CIA Bella Vista would have their whole team in attendance, but I was unaware they were also playing in the Border League in Las Vegas. Because they were playing in two tournaments on the same weekend, I was able to watch a handful of players who otherwise wouldn’t be in the starting lineup considering Bella Vista is one of the deepest and most talented teams in the nation. One of those players was Noah George, a currently unranked (according to 247) shooting guard from Glendale, Arizona, who really impressed me on the weekend. While he is unranked by select outlets, he does already hold offers from Oregon, Georgia Tech, and Arizona State, three programs who are clearly doing their homework, as I think George could be a very solid addition next season.
I watched George play twice on the weekend, and both times he stood out to me as the most college-ready (from a skill perspective) player on the team. He was the best shooter on the floor in both games and was able to make a major impact on the offensive end despite not having the ball in his hands all that much. When he did spend possessions operating as his team’s lead guard, he was able to get to his spots and knock down outside shots without wasting dribbles or slowing down the pace of play. Without the ball, he’s an excellent catch-and-shoot agent from beyond the arc with super smooth mechanics. He can attack closeouts and did a handful of times, but he’s actually better at collapsing the defense and passing out of those situations than he is finishing inside or from the short mid-range. All in all, while he is rather one-dimensional on the offensive end, he’s incredibly proficient in that dimension and doesn’t negatively impact his team by trying to branch too far outside of his comfort zone.
He didn’t stand out as a game breaking defender by any means, but I was more than happy with what I saw from him on the defensive end. He spent most of his minutes defending away from the ball but did see his fair share of point-of-attack opportunities when his opponent’s secondary guard brought the ball up the court for whatever reason. While he’s listed at 170lbs, I thought he looked significantly heavier than that in a good way. He stood his ground well, moved well laterally, and even picked a few balls out of the air when defending off-ball. If he can continue to develop physically, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be a solid defender at the college level. He showcased evident feel for the game on both ends, which I believe bodes well for his long-term defensive ceiling.
Despite Bella Vista’s starting lineup being all the way out in Nevada, their squad in Kentucky ended up winning this tournament, and Noah George was a big reason for that. He was the best outside shooter, arguably scorer, on the team all weekend, and his long-range gravity gave his teammates a ton of flexibility. I would imagine that his performances throughout this tournament have secured him a major rotational spot when the roster is all together, and I’m excited to see what that team looks like in the power conference this season. Based on what I’ve seen from him, I expect him to make an impact for whatever college program he decides to join, and I expect him to finish the season as a consensus four-star recruit.
Aidan Chronister – 6’7” 180lbs – Wing – Class of 2026 – The New School
I promise I’m not here to do propaganda work for the University of Missouri, but Aidan Chronister, another player joining the Tigers next season, was the most skilled player I saw in this event. As far as immediate eye-appeal is concerned, Chronister was the guy for me on the weekend. The top 75 ranked (according to 247) four-star recruit recently committed to the Missouri Tigers and head coach Dennis Gates, and for me, it was very clear why that program prioritized him on the recruiting trail. The lanky shooting wing is an incredible all-around processor capable of making an impact with and without the ball and is just plain smooth at all times.
During the games of his that I watched, Chronister spent most of his time away from the ball, a coaching decision that I must admit I disagree with. While he likely won’t be a primary ball handler at the college level, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him getting more on-ball opportunities as a scoring wing of his caliber. When he did have the ball, his primary threat was the outside shot, but he also showcased his three-level scoring and all-around passing acumen. What stood out the most to me was his overall decision-making process, both as a scorer and a playmaker. Every time he got the ball, something good happened for his team. Even when he missed a shot, it seemed like the right shot when he took it. He was the most mature offensive agent I saw, and to be honest, one of the more mature processing wings I’ve seen in a long time.
That processing ability translated directly to the defensive end, where he managed to get stops without doing much at all. His rotations were crisp, his switches were perfect, and he regularly picked up off-ball steals and help side blocks simply by being in the right place at the right time. I can’t comment on his motor, because like I said, it seriously felt like he was making a positive defensive impact without doing much. I have no reason to believe he doesn’t have a strong motor, but in the games I watched, he was making a difference primarily because of his feel for the game. He has a promising frame, and if he can add more muscle to it, I think he’ll end up being a very strong college defender. As the season progresses, I expect him to get more love from a defensive perspective.
In conclusion, I walk away from this tournament in love with Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class. Chronister, much like Bryant, is more than ready to contribute at the college level. He has one of the smoother offensive packages that I’ve seen from an off-ball wing, and based on the games I watched, he doesn’t have a single glaring weakness in his game. To be honest, I don’t know how it’s possible for him to be ranked as low as he is, and I fully expect him to rise up the ranks as the season moves along. If the coaching staff at The New School starts to give him the ball more and allow him to initiate the offense, I think that would be the best-case scenario for both the team and Chronister himself.
Birkir Eythorsson – 6’8” 190lbs – Wing/Forward - Class of 2026 – St. John’s DME
As I mentioned earlier, no underrated player caught my eye this year the same way that Arafan Diane did last year, but if I had to choose one under-recruited player to cover it would be Birkir Eythorsson. Coming into the weekend, the names on my mind regarding St. John’s DME were LaTrevion Fenderson and JT Grondin, but instead, it was Eythorsson who stood above the rest (to be fair, Grondin did not play). Eythorsson was one of the best, if not the best, three-point shooters I saw during the event, and his overall offensive processing was evident from the moment he stepped on the court. He was the most vocal player in the tournament, constantly talking on both ends of the court and clearly having a strong understanding of his team’s playbook. In only two games, he proved to me that he’s more than ready to contribute at the collegiate level.
In the games of his that I watched, he was primarily used as a catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc, constantly moving away from the ball in search of strong long-range position. When he was given the opportunity to create his own offense, he made the most of it. While he isn’t a dynamic ball handler, his outside shooting gravity allows him to attack closeouts and get to the mid-range, where he possesses an impressive arsenal of traditional jumpers and in-between soft touch shots. He also showcased strong kickout passing on these looks, further cementing the well-rounded nature of his offensive game. Like I said, he was constantly talking on both ends of the court, a trait that many evaluators don’t consider when attempting to predict a player’s future viability. All in all, he possesses a very mature offensive toolbelt and a college-ready physical profile that I believe will immediately translate to the college game.
Eythorsson had a solid defensive outing on the weekend, but he wasn’t anything to write home about. He stuck with his man, moved well laterally, and I can’t recall him getting beat off-the-dribble at any point. He spent the entirety of both games defending opposing wings away from the ball, and while I don’t think he generated any steals or blocks (which I could be wrong about) he was also never targeted by his opponents. In fact, he was given the Toni Bryant assignment at points during St. John’s DME’s game against Zephyrhills, and he did a good job of defending him on the perimeter. That said, his defensive value was primarily derived from his communication, as he supported his teammates via his voice no matter what defensive scenario he found himself in. Much like his offense, his defensive ability also appeared very mature, and I think he’ll make an impact on this end of the floor once he reaches the college level.
The staff at St. John’s DME made an excellent decision when they added Eythorsson to their roster before this season. I’m a fan of their team, but they took a major hit with the graduation of star guard Kruz McClure, especially from a shooting perspective. Now they have a true sharpshooter, and he’s a 6’8” big wing at that. As the season progresses, I’m hoping that Eythorsson picks up more steam on the recruiting trail, as I think he’s a surefire bet to contribute at the next level. He’ll most likely be a mid-major recruit, which I think would be fantastic for his long-term development. I believe at one point he was committed to North Dakota State, a very good mid-major prospect factory, but I can’t find any information on whether he’s still heading to Fargo or not next season. That said, I think he’ll find success no matter where he ends up, and I’m excited to see him play a few more times this year.
Honorable Mentions:
Ty Ingram – 6’2” 165lbs – Combo Guard – Class of 2026 – Skyline Prep
Tyrone Uwandu – 6’6” - Shooting Guard – Class of 2026 – Wilson Academy
Joseph Hartman – 6’5” 190lbs – Shooting Guard – Class of 2026 – The Rock School
Pablo Rodriguez – 6’8” - Forward/Wing - Class of 2026 – SFA Academy
Jordan Charles – 6’0” 165lbs – Point Guard – Class of 2026 – CIA Bella Vista
Alexander Davis – 6’9” 245lbs – Power Forward – Class of 2026 – Zephyrhills
LaTrevion Fenderson – 6’5” 205lbs – Small Forward – Class of 2026 – St. John’s DME
Braylen Langley – 6’9” 195lbs – Forward/Wing - Class of 2026 – Skyline Prep
Yale Davis – 6’0 165lbs – Point Guard – Class of 2026 - Zephyrhills
Lucas Evan Toukam - 6’8” 200lbs - Forward - Class of 2026 - CIA Bella Vista
Deng Longar – 6’9” - Forward/Wing - Class of 2027 – Victory Rock Prep
Timothy West Jr had a hec of a Grind Session , especially for a sophomore … starts at point and averaged 15 points per game — I’m his head coach at SFA — thanks for giving Pablo a honorable mention