Grind Session Philly: Saturday standouts

The Grind Session made its annual stop in Philadelphia this weekend, bringing a pair of the nation's most talented teams to the City of Brotherly Love for a two-day slate. Keep reading for a look at some standouts from Saturday's pair of games.    Southeastern took left with a commanding win over in-state rival West Oaks with their standout junior point guard leading the way. Having grown significantly and added notable athleticism in the past year, Black kept the game in the palm of his hands while picking things apart off the dribble and showing his growth as a perimeter shooter. He mostly lived on the perimeter and thrived as a setup man in the first half before turning things up in the second with physical and crafty forays to the paint. Black finished with 22 points and continues to track as one of the top lead guards in his class.     One of the elite seniors in the country, Branch showed just why he's so highly-regarded in a dominant effort to help Prolific put away a feisty Royal Crown group. The versatile swingman was hyper efficient with his touches and shot selection, needing just 13 shot attempts for his 31 points. He thrived both with and without the ball, spotting up as a dangerous threat from the perimeter, slipping screens to make plays going downhill, or operating off ball screens with pace and skill. Branch looked like he may have added an inch to his frame since earlier this season while continuing to fill out in his upper body and add athleticism to make him a more dynamic finisher around the rim. The McDonald's All-American projects as a likely one-and-done talent with potential to hear his name called in the lottery.     Among the top uncommitted seniors in the country, Holt proved his mettle as a McDonald's All-American with a hard-nosed 22-point performance in Prolific's win over Royal Crown. He stuffed the stat sheet with 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block, operating across the lineup on both ends while displaying his toughness, physicality, and athleticism. Holt started off a bit slow as a scorer but picked things up as the Crew pulled away in the second half, getting going as a pullup shooter and taking advantage of his size to punish the opposing backcourt around the basket. When his jumper is falling, the McDonald's All-American is truly one of the more dynamic two-way threats in the country.     Considered perhaps the top post prospect in the national junior class, Ekezie was a force in the paint from the opening tip to help Southeastern cruise past West Oaks. The 7-footer nearly reached double-figure rebounds before halftime on his way to a 15-point double-double. He was consistent in his ability to establish inside position and grab whatever hit his hands at the highest point. His offense came mostly by way of dumpoffs but he also hit a smooth jump hook through contact, cashed in consistently at the foul line, and flashed his shooting touch out to the 3-point line. Ekezie's role is limited with Southeastern's cadre of talent alongside him but his ability to thrive as a rim-runner and paint protector have him being recruited at the highest levels of the sport.     Leading Royal Crown to a near-upset of nationally-ranked Prolific Prep through three quarters, McGregor was a consistent source of offense on his way to 17 points. He was at his best beyond the arc, where he connected on 5 out of 11 tries, showcasing a dynamic stroke with consistent mechanics, a quick release, and range deep outside the line. McGregor flashed some polish off the dribble and looked to be a live-bodied athlete with adequate positional size. He's entertaining a variety of low and mid-major programs and certainly looked capable of contributing at that level with his prolific shotmaking.     Matched up with a McDonald's All-American and a five-star junior in the opposing frontcourt for Southeastern Prep, Sy more than held his own in an impressive display for the unsigned senior. Sy posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 boards, thriving as a rim-runner and showing intriguing flashes of skill lingering below the surface. He runs the floor with ease and is explosive playing off 1-foot as a finisher around the rim in transition or as a roller. He moves with a grace and fluidity that's rare to find at his size and shows glimpses of comfort as a ballhandler and passer within the flow of the game. Sy looked like a potentially valuable late addition at the D1 level with plenty of upside to keep tapping into further.

The Grind Session made its annual stop in Philadelphia this weekend, bringing a pair of the nation's most talented teams to the City of Brotherly Love for a two-day slate. Keep reading for a look at some standouts from Saturday's pair of games.