High School Basketball World Championship Tips Off in Las Vegas

Some of the nation’s top high school basketball teams are in Las Vegas this weekend (March 8-10) as they begin their quest for The Grind Session World Championship. The field will feature 16 teams from seven states and Canada, including local powerhouse SFBA Trinity Prep and northern California’s Prolific Prep, the No. 5 high school boys team in the country.

The Round of 16 and Quarterfinals will be played at Desert Pines High School at 3800 E. Harris Avenue.

The Grind Session is a winter circuit of high school basketball events from late November until early March that consists of elite teams from all over the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. To put into perspective how good this circuit is: over the past 10 years, nearly 100 players from the Grind Session have gone on to play in the NBA, including more than 20 who were chosen in the first round of the past two NBA drafts.

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 others.

“Our circuit has taken high school basketball to new heights over the past decade, becoming the home and proving ground for the nation's best prospects and teams. Hundreds of teams have participated on the circuit and nearly 3,000 players from those teams have gone on to play collegiate or professional basketball,” said Cesar Vizcarrondo, Chief Brand Officer of The Grind Session. "We're excited about bringing the start of our World Championship to Las Vegas and look forward to a truly amazing weekend."

The Round of 16 will open with three games on Friday, March 8 starting at 5:00 p.m. and continues with five games on Saturday, March 9 starting at 1:30 p.m.

The Round of 16 matchups are:

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

5:00 p.m. – DME Academy (FL) vs. SFBA Trinity Prep (NV)

6:45 p.m. – Dream City Christian (AZ) vs. Academy of Central Florida (FL)

8:30 p.m. – Prolific Prep (CA) vs. winner of play-in game between PACE Academy and Chi Prep Academy

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

1:30 p.m. – Fort Erie International Academy (ON, CAN) vs. Accelerated Prep (CO)

3:15 p.m. – Bella Vista Prep (AZ) vs. Royal Crown (ON, CAN)

5:00 p.m. – Utah Prep (UT) vs. Orangeville Prep (ON, CAN)

6:45 p.m. – Winston-Salem Christian (NC) vs. DNA Prep (CA)

8:30 p.m. – Balboa School (FL) vs. Colorado Prep (CO)

The Quarterfinals will take place on SUNDAY, MARCH 10 starting at 3:15 p.m.

The competition will also feature 19 of the Top 100 prospects in the country across the ’24, ’25 and ’26 classes, including three of this year’s McDonald’s All-Americans, as well as Prolific Prep junior A.J. Dybantsa and Prolific Prep sophomore Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 overall prospects in their respective classes. Dybantsa is already widely considered to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Admission is $15 per day. Entry is free for those age 6 and younger.

All games will be streamed live on TanagerSports.TV.

The Semifinals and Championship are scheduled for March 16-17 in Chicago.