Film Room: Grind Session Boca Raton MD/VA Prospects

The Grind Session made its way to Boca Raton, FL this weekend with a schedule that was loaded with national names. Mixed in the group of teams was Mt. Zion Prep and Gillion Academy, two DMV teams that have made strong impressions within the league thus far. Gillion would finish their weekend going 1-1 while Mt. Zion left winless at 0-2 despite getting off to a hot start in Grind Session league play this fall.    It was yet another dominant showing from the future Florida State Seminole big man as he asserted himself as the most fearful paint presence in high school basketball. His combination of size at 6'11"-7'0" and strength is in a class of his its own. The physicality and quickness that you see out of human the size of Ponder is usually only witnessed on the defensive line of an NFL team and that only applies to the strength and weight portion. Ponder posted an outrageous triple-double of 17 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 blocks (!!) in a win over West Oaks (FL). In one of the most anticipated matchups of the early HS season, Gillion fell to No. 1 ranked Prolific Prep by a final score of 75-60 on Saturday, but Ponder left his fingerprints all over the effort to a tune of 18 points, 16 rebounds, and eight blocks.     It was a tough trip down south for Mt. Zion as they went 0-2 playing against stout competition in Prolific Prep (FL) and Huntington Expressions Prep (WV). Green had his better showing when the lights were bright against the No. 1 team in the country as the versatile forward led the Warriors with 27 points and six rebounds. Green was effective on catches out on the perimeter or in semi-transition getting downhill and finding driving lanes to maneuver his way to rim and force the ref's whistle. In game with such high-level talent, it was good to see Green answer the call and step in as a consistent offensive threat for his team.     Despite the two losses, Cannady's production and command on the ball remained consistent as he averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the weekend. He did a nice job of attacking closeouts of swing passes or making opposing bigs pay for playing in drop coverage on high ball screen actions as he got to his spots from 15-to-17 feet with great pace and balance. In the past, Cannady would often be sped up by pressure or the situation of a high-level game whereas now, he's the calming presence on the ball and puts constant pressure on the defense with his shot-making ability. He also was effective getting downhill to his left hand and finishing with his right for quick scoop lay-ups before the opposing shot blockers could alter his attempt.     Burnett is the other focal point of this Gillion Academy team that demands full attention from the opposition. His quick-twitch, shifty approach to break down his man and create space for himself never seems to fail. That was held true in their win over West Oaks (FL) as the Mississippi State pledge hung 31 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out four dimes, and registered three steals in the showing. Burnett struggled a bit against the loaded backcourt of Prolific, but it wasn't his ability to create space. It more so had to do with his shot simply not falling. There were a few spurts where he seemed to be playing in a rush, which also contributed to his struggles, but he still was able to chip in 12 points.     When Bennett isn't at the controls for Gillion, Griffin steps in an ensures duty as the table-setting point guard with an old school presence about him. He plays with good pace, patience in pick-and-rolls, and instincts with secondary reads off the live bounce. It was a good weekend for him to be pushed on both ends of the floor, particularly in his matchup with who majority consider the top point guard in the 2027 national class in Nasir Anderson. Griffin can put the ball in the bucket when his number is called from the mid-range after defense's adjust to his pass first approach.     Alongside Cannady in the backcourt, Canton is another consistent scorer who provides value as a guard who can play on or off the ball. At his best, he's attacking off dribble-drive kicks where he can use his first step to establish advantages in the gaps, find his way to the rim, and finish through contact. He also thrived in transition where Canton can get a head of steam with end-to-end speed and put pressure on the rim. Canton knocked down a couple of smooth shots from deep throughout the course of their two games. As this aspect of his game becomes more consistent, Canton's dynamism will continue to expand.

The Grind Session made its way to Boca Raton, FL this weekend with a schedule that was loaded with national names. Mixed in the group of teams was Mt. Zion Prep and Gillion Academy, two DMV teams that have made strong impressions within the league thus far. Gillion would finish their weekend going 1-1 while Mt. Zion left winless at 0-2 despite getting off to a hot start in Grind Session league play this fall.