The Grind Session Toronto Standouts

James "I.V." Williams
Nov 14, 2025
20 min read

Updated: Feb 23

What do you get when you combine some of the best, young, talent, north of the border, with a mix of the most prestigious, and highly ranked, preparator schools from the states ?

Well, the folks at Tanager Sports & The Grind Session, certainly knew what kind of experience they intended to put on display, as The Grind Session's Canada event, exemplified the rich, and abundant, wave of young basketball athletes, that the Land of Maple is currently producing. Along with the first ever intercontinental team to participate in the Grind Session, in the Italian program, The Star Aliance, and several highly ranked top 15 teams, all participating in this three day event, this was an masterclass performance of elite youth talent, taking in Toronto, CA. Below are a list of standout athletes, seen over the course of Nov. 7th - 9th, courtesy of our Canadian correspondent, and Director of Basketball Intel, Layth Dahman.

We extend the utmost thanks, and appreciation to the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association, for allowing us, at Between The Lines, to partake in this event, and continue our coverage of elite grassroots talent, regardless of geography.

Style of Play:

The Grind Session is an event that attracts a lot of high school talent, who get to show

what they can do against some of the best competition. In this tournament, most teams

played a very fast pace and space style of offense, getting up and down the floor quickly

with either the transition ball-handler getting all the way to the rim or to his spot for a

dribble pull-up shot, or the leak-out player getting looks created by their teammates for

catch and shoot pull-up threes or shots in the paint. In the half-court, the teams with an

effective guard and center ran a different style of play using a pick and roll offense,

while other teams didn't have the luxury of doing so. Some teams had skilled stretch

bigs who were more of a perimeter presence than an interior physical presence so

those teams would run more pick and pop rather than have the big rolling to the rim.

Many teams had the guard play in the half-court creating a lot of constant drive and kick

and dribble penetration on possessions, collapsing the defense and finding catch and

shoot three-point shooters or cutters. The teams with non-physical bigs would play more

out of the high post and set things up from there, while the teams with more size would

use their size to their advantage and post up on the smaller defender.

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Standouts:

DJ Smith is a skilled modern big who can score in many ways. He operates in the post

with a turnaround shot, elevating and shooting over smaller defenders with good touch

and a high release point, which is his main go-to shot. He also executes a step-through

with good footwork and finishes inside, which is his secondary shot. He is effective as

pick and roll and pick and pop threat. He sets good hard picks, understands screening

angles, and absorbs contact with the defender, which are the little things that high

school players usually struggle with. He frees up his pick and roll ball-handler, and

forces switches into favorable matchups where the pick and roll ball-handler can attack

and take advantage of. When setting picks he communicates with the pick and roll ball-

handlers and guards to ensure they are on the same page with their execution. When

looking to score he is more of a pick and pop threat from mid-range and three-point

range than a roller to the rim. He can put the ball on the floor, attack a closeout, and get

to a dribble pull-up mid-range shot. He is an active cutter and doesn't get stagnant,

creating offensive opportunities through his own off-ball movement. He can execute a

variety of cuts cutting backdoor, from the top of the key, or flash cuts to get a mid-range

shot. He is an aggressive rebounder, crashes the glass, grabs rebounds out of his zone,

and grabs tough contested rebounds through traffic. In transition, he follows his teammate's misses and cleans it up converting it into putback second-chance points.

On the defensive end, he is a rim protector. He uses his length and size to force tough

contested shots or break up passes at the rim. As a shot blocker, he is disciplined,

jumping straight up vertically without fouling and times shots well. He is also an effective

post up defender by walling up in the post, not giving up deep post positioning, and

having a strong upper body, making it tough to back him down and get a quality look at

the rim. He is quick to get back in transition, forcing the transition player into a tougher

shot than they initially would have, or he fouls them hard making them earn it at the

free-throw line.

Jayonni Durrough is a big shot creating guard and the primary ball-handler. He shows

the potential to be a three-level scorer with his ability to create his own shot from inside,

mid-range, and three-point range. He creates a good amount of separation from the

defender with a step-back jump shot. He is an inside-out player with his aggressiveness

attacking the rim to set the tone and then expanding his range as the game moves on

and opposing teams key in on him as a driver. In the half-court, he has a quick,

explosive first step to blow by defenders and the size, frame, and strength to shield

them. He can get to the free-throw line, convert them at a high rate, and finish through

contact. Despite being best with the ball in his hand, he isn't a ball-dominant guard and

can be effective playing off the ball when needed. He can operate as a catch and shoot

three-point threat, cuts, and give and go actions. He relocates along the three-point line

and finds the open space. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He can

play in transition as a ball-handler and leak-out man at a slow controlled pace. His

ability to rebound and push the ball forward allows his team to have more numbers in

transition and players leaking out rather than a big grabbing a rebound and having to

get him the ball. He can also involve teammates and create looks for them on drive and

kicks. When he gets deep into the paint, he looks to finish and get to the free-throw line

rather than setting teammates up, so his drive and kicks are more from the top of the

key when he doesn't get deep in the paint.

Beckham Black is a big guard who is effective attacking the rim. The combination of his

ability to change speed and direction, play at his own pace comfortably without getting

sped up, and use his body to shield off defenders and keep them behind him or on his

hip makes it hard for defenders to stay in front of him. He is aggressive attacking the rim

and is always looking to get into the paint as his main source of offense. The

combination of his aggressiveness, rim pressure, and size and strength allows him to

absorb contact, draw fouls, and get to the free-throw line. Later in the game after he

does his damage in the paint he can step out and knock down catch and shoot three-

pointers and three-pointers off the dribble. He has a quick release and fluid shooting

mechanics on his three-point shot. When shooting off the dribble he can create

separation from the defender with a step-back jumper. When teams were putting more

physical, athletic, and lengthy defenders on him, he played more as a pick and roll ball-

handler, creating his shot effectively off the dribble. He is quick and decisive coming

around picks and getting to his spots, or he can also reject the pick and play one on

one. He didn't get many opportunities to operate off the ball, but he was effective when

doing it. He is a facilitator on the offensive end and a high-level playmaker by knowing

the spots his teammates operate in, putting them in a position to succeed, and elevating

their game. He has a good balance of looking to score and involving his teammates. He

is vocal, calling out plays and being a loud communicator on the court, displaying vocal

leadership and showing his point guard mentality as he orchestrates the offense. He

can make passes in the pick and roll, transition, off drive and kick and dribble

penetration, and execute tough cross court passes in the half-court or find cutters with

an accurate lob pass. In transition, he pushes the pace with a run and gun high-octane

offense, finding his catch and shoot three-point shooters or the leak-out man. On drive

and kick and dribble penetration he gets deep in the paint, attracts multiple defenders,

and kicks it out to open three-point shooters for high percentage uncontested threes. In

the pick and roll, he is quick to find the pick and roll man with a pocket pass allowing

him to be a catalyst in executing quick pick and roll offense. On the defensive end, he

has good length, which he uses to anticipate and disrupt passes by playing the passing

lanes well, allowing him to create offense from his defensive position, whether he is

looking to push the pace to score or set up teammates. Opposing teams struggle to

execute passes through his length, especially on inbound passes. He is quick fighting

through picks, has the physicality to get through them, and moves well laterally allowing

him to stay with the pick and roll ball-handler which limits the number of switches and

help defense he needs.

CJ Rosser Jr. is one of the most skilled players at the Grind Session, being a modern

big with guard skills. He operates in transition, pushing the pace as a ball-handler or

being a rim runner on leak-outs. As a ball-handler, he has a tight handle for his size and

has big strides, allowing him to get all the way to the rim without much resistance or go

into a dribble pull-up. On leak-outs, he is quick and explosive running the floor and

outrunning the opposing team to get high-percentage dunks and layups. He has good

hands and is a lob threat. He is an athletic above the rim finisher with the potential for

NBA level athleticism. On the offensive end, he is a three-level scorer, creating his own

shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He gets to his spot effectively and

has the size to elevate and shoot over smaller defenders. As an off-ball player, he uses

his mobility to slip picks and get to the open space for a catch and shoot three-pointer.

He is fluid at his size coming around off-ball screens and pindowns to get to his spot in

the mid-range. He can operate as a backdoor cutter off the ball. He can also operate in

the post as a turnaround shooter with touch and footwork rather than backing up the

defender and going to a hook shot. On the offensive end, he is a threat, grabbing extra

possessions and second-chance opportunities, and on the defensive end, he limits

them for opposing teams. His size and length give him a massive advantage in

rebounding the ball. He jumps really high for rebounds, keeps the ball high, and grab

tough contested rebounds through traffic and crowds. On defense, he is a versatile

defender who can guard multiple positions. He shows flashes of being a switchable

defender. He moves his feet well enough and is strong and physical enough to stay in

front of guards, making it hard for them to get their shot off. He is strong enough to

defend against physical bigs in the post, walling up without giving up deep post

positioning and getting backed down. He can also anticipate and get into passing lanes

with his long arms and length. He is quick on rotations and closing out on three-point

shooters, which gives him the qualities to be a small ball 5 in spurts. He is quick getting

back in transition and doesn't allow easy transition opportunities for opposing teams

blocking shots or using his length to alter them. He has timing, instincts, and he covers

a lot of ground when blocking shots. A minor improvement area for him on the defensive

end is being more disciplined and avoiding baiting into shot fakes, which get him up in

the air and off-balance.

Brian Angeletti runs the floor well as a rim running big. He is quick and explosive in

transition making it hard for opposing teams bigs to keep up with the pace he plays at.

He has good hands and is a lob threat. He is also stretch big making threes on volume

in catch and shoot scenarios as a pick and pop threat, off dribble penetration and drive

and kick, and in transition leaking out and finding the open space. He has a quick

release and fluid shooting mechanics, giving him the foundation to be an intriguing

shooter in the future. When he draws closeouts with him being a shooting threat he can

use shot fakes to get the defender up in the air and off-balance, put the ball on the floor,

and get to the rim with a tight enough handle. He is a player who shoots impressively

from the free-throw line displaying a good routine, poise, and touch. He can be a threat

in the low post having the physical tools to get deep post positioning. His go-to shot in

the post is a hook shot over smaller defenders, which he can finish over both shoulders.

He has the mobility to spin off defenders and get to the rim which is rare for someone

his size. He attracted double teams in the post, where he could make passes to the

open man, whether it was a cutter or a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He can also

initiate dribble handoffs and handoffs that give a shooter a good look from three-point

range. On the defensive end, he is an interior presence. He doesn't necessarily block

shots because he's not a quick jumper, but he uses his length to contest and alter shots

in the paint. He is quick to get back in transition and limits easy fast-break opportunities

for opposing teams. He shows a maturity beyond his age, not getting down on himself

when he makes mistakes on the offensive end, and displays a next play mentality. He

has timing, instincts, discipline, the ability to jump straight up without fouling, and he

covers a lot of ground as a shot blocker. He is a high-level post up defender. He doesn't

allow deep post positioning and doesn't get backed down in the post. He denies entry

passes and makes sure the post-up player catches the ball and operates far from the

basket.

Ricards Aizpurs is a guard with a strong frame and broad shoulders, which he uses to

his advantage when driving to the rim and seeking mismatches. He rebounds the ball

well and pushes the pace as a ball-handler in transition to get all the way to the rim or

take dribble pull-up threes. He has a tight handle, changes speed and direction, and

plays at his own pace, making it tough for defenders to contain him. He can be a trail

guy in transition getting catch and shoot pull-up three-pointers. His aggressiveness,

constantly getting to the rim and deep in the paint, makes him a threat to draw fouls and

put the opposing team in foul trouble. When shooting threes he has a quick release and

fluid shooting mechanics. In the half-court, he is the primary ball-handler and pick and

roll player where he gets to his spots effectively. As a pick and roll player he attacks the

rim and scores in the paint, gets to his spot for a dribble pull-up threes, or uses it to

initiate drive and kick passes for his teammates. When attacking the rim, he is a crafty

finisher with good footwork and big strides, making up for his lack of athleticism. He can

navigate pressure well splitting hedges and double teams as they come his way. He is a

clutch scorer and one of his team's go-to scorers late in games when they need a

basket. He is very decisive and has a poise and calmness to him at the end of games.

As a drive and kick passer, he attracts multiple defenders and collapses the defense

setting his teammates up for high-percentage quality looks. He can find the open man,

is a willing passer, and makes quick decisions. Being a bigger guard, he can play back

to the basket, get deep post positioning, and create looks for his teammates with

crosscourt passes when attracting double teams or help defense, or overpower smaller

guards and finish inside with footwork and touch. In transition, as a passer he can find

his rim running big and throw accurate lob passes to catch and finish. He is a scrappy

defender. He navigates through picks and moves well laterally through them. If he gets

stuck on picks he can recover and get back into the possession to force a tougher

contested shot using his length and size against smaller guards.

Jacob Canton is a combo guard who thrives utilizing his athleticism in the open court.

He can operate in transition as a ball-handler and on leak-outs. He pushes the pace in

transition after grabbing a defensive rebound, not breaking stride or slowing down,

allowing his team to play at the fast pace they try to implement. On leak-outs, he is

quick, explosive, and fills the lanes well allowing him to outrun the other team. He is

aggressive looking to play with an attack mentality going to the rim and putting a lot of

pressure on the rim. He can absorb contact, finish through it, and get to the free-throw

line as a straight-line driver. He can be an athletic above the rim finisher or an acrobatic

finisher with body control. He showed flashes of creating his own shot as an isolation

player in the half-court. He can create separation from the defender with a step-back

jumper. When creating off the dribble, he can have a flat shot lacking backspin as the

game moves on and he gets fatigued. Off the dribble, he is best attacking the rim and

using his quick, explosive first step to blow by his matchup. He can play off the ball,

moving along the three-point line and relocating, making it exhausting for defenders to

chase him around. He is not only a standstill shooter in catch and shoot scenarios but

can also be a movement shooter with the good balance and footwork he displays to get

into that shot. His off-ball play is an intriguing skillset, showing he can play well with

good players around him. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and lift and

elevation getting his shot off over defenders when they closeout on him. He can get

teammates quality looks as a passer on drive and kick and off dribble penetration. He

gets deep in the paint, attracts multiple defenders, and collapses the defense, allowing

him to set up teammates for catch and shoot three-pointers. On the defensive end, he

fights through picks, moves well laterally, shows defensive lateral quickness, and

maintains a low base. He anticipates and gets into passing lanes for steals and

deflections, sparking fast-break opportunities and creating offense from his defense. His

improvement areas are being more decisive when attacking closeouts; his indecision

between shooting and driving leads to turnovers. He also needs to be a more willing

passer, as he sometimes takes tough contested shots rather than setting up his

teammates.

Jasiah Cannady is a scoring guard and shot maker. He shows flashes of being a three-

level scorer creating his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He

creates separation from defenders with a step-back jumper. He has quickness,

explosiveness, and shiftiness with his first step to blow by defenders and get downhill

on straight-line drives. When matched against size and length, he finds ways to avoid

getting his shot blocked and get his shot over the defender's length by contorting his

body. His aggressiveness driving to the rim and creating bumps gets him to the free-

throw line at a high rate where he can convert on easy points. He thrives in transition,

leaking out and as a ball-handler, getting all the way to the rim and outrunning the

opposing team. He can also take catch and shoot pull up threes in transition. When

finishing inside the paint, he has good footwork and is a crafty finisher allowing him to

navigate tight spaces and get around defenders when opposing defenses crowd the

paint. He is a streaky scorer either scoring in bunches or missing in bunches. To be a

higher-level and more efficient scorer, he needs to improve his shot selection and take

fewer tough contested shots off the dribble. He is the primary point guard for his team

and has a point guard mentality being vocal on the court, directing the offense, and

telling teammates where to be and what to do, which displays his vocal leadership. He

is the primary pick and roll option as a ball-handler making passes to the pick and pop

threat setting them up for quality looks or using picks to initiate drive and kick and

dribble penetration to collapse the defense and find shooters. He is a go-to scorer and

clutch shot maker. He made many tough clutch shots off the dribble late in games, both

as a pick and roll ball-handler and on isolations. On defense, he takes a back seat at

times to prioritize offense. He has shown flashes of moving his feet well laterally and

going through picks on the defensive end. He can get overaggressive, pressuring the

ball and playing up high, which can cause him to commit fouls at times.

Promis N'Landu | G | 6' 3" | Fort Erie International Academy | Class of 2026 |

Committed to George Washington University

Promis N'Landu is a guard who is aggressive getting downhill and attacking the rim. He

can operate on isolations using his quick and explosive first step to blow by his

matchup. He can operate in pick and rolls, getting around the pick quickly and taking

advantage of switches and mismatches, or rejecting the ball-screen. He can finish with

both hands and attack on both sides. He can change speed and direction to

complement his speed and explosiveness, making it hard for defenders to stay in front

of him. He can start drives fast and slow down as he gets to the rim or start drives slow

and explode to the rim as he gets closer. He plays at his own pace and doesn't get sped

up. He can do a combination of being a straight-line driver to the rim and use craftiness

and footwork in the paint to navigate around defenders. He is strong absorbing contact,

finishing through it, and getting to the free-throw line. He isn't ball-dominant and doesn't

need the ball in his hands to make an impact. He moves well without the ball along the

three-point line, finds the open space, and relocates for catch and shoot three-pointers

or he is in the right positions on scrambles after offensive rebounds to get high-quality

catch and shoot threes. He is Fort Erie's go-to scorer late in games. He isn't afraid of

the moment and gets more aggressive, hunting down his shot in crunch time as the

game moves on in the second half. He can create looks for his teammates with passes

on drive and kick and dribble penetration, crosscourt passes in the half-court, and in

transition finding the leak-out man. With his scoring ability, teams became more

aggressive with their defensive coverages on him sending double teams, hedges, and

blitzes when he was the pick and roll ball-handler. An improvement area for him in this

situation is making quicker decisions and improving his ability to pass through length

and traffic. He is a high-level defender. He creates offense from his defense, anticipating

and getting into passing lanes. He fights through picks, moves well laterally through

them, and shows defensive lateral quickness. He is quick on rotations and closing out

on three-point shooters using his length to force them into a tough contested shot. He is

defensively sound and has discipline closing out without jumping into the shooter and

fouling. He can pick up ball-handlers from the backcourt and be physical with them as

they advance the ball, wearing them out.

Eli Jolin | F | 6' 7" | Fort Erie International Academy | Class of 2026 |

Committed to Santa Clara University

Eli Jolin is a forward who thrives running the floor in transition on leak-outs. He is quick,

explosive, fluid for his size, and he fills the lanes well, allowing him to outrun other

teams and get high-percentage easy fast-break points. He is an athletic above the rim

finisher. He can push the pace in transition and get downhill with an effective tight

handle at his size, showcasing his guard skills. He is crafty executing stop and go

moves and step-throughs with good footwork and balance. He plays at a slow controlled

pace when attacking the rim. His ability to get deep into the paint, attract multiple

defenders, and collapse the defense allows him to operate in drive and kick situation

and off dribble penetration, where he finds teammates. He moves well without the ball

by backdoor cutting to the rim or by constantly moving along the three-point line. He has

quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and a high release point shooting over others

on catch and shoot threes. He doesn't have deep range from three potentially making

him a more inconsistent shooter as he moves up to the next level and deals with a

further three-point line. He is an aggressive rebounder crashing the glass and

rebounding out of his zone, showcasing his effort and motor. On putbacks, he is an

extremely athletic finisher and comes out of nowhere to get them. Defensively, he is

quick to get back in transition and forces a tougher shot rather than giving uncontested

layups or dunks at the rim. He can stay in front of guys his size with good defensive

positioning and contest their shots at the rim without fouling. He has the intangibles from

a teammate perspective being a great teammate picking guys up and encouraging

them.

Kymani Walters is a player who likes to push the pace in transition, either as a ball-

handler or a leak-out. As a ball-handler, he is quick and explosive, with long strides for

his size, allowing him to get all the way to the rim. He is in attack mode in transition and

looks to convert on easy fast-break points. His ability to grab defensive rebounds and

push the pace is vital for Royal Crown to play at the fast pace they like. He is a

combination of an athletic above the rim finisher on some possessions and a crafty

finisher with good footwork to navigate around the defense when they send multiple

bodies into the paint. In the half-court, he can operate with the ball in his hands and off

the ball. As a ball-handler, he can blow by defenders and get all the way to the rim. He

is able to feel the contact, absorb it, and get to the free-throw line as he drives to the rim

where he converts free-throws at a high rate. He moves well without the ball along the

three-point line or cutting backdoor to the rim. As a backdoor cutter, he hesitates slightly

when moving without the ball, which throws defenders off-balance, and he has the

quickness and explosiveness to blow by the off-ball defender and get into the paint. He

has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics on catch and shoot threes. He has a

knack for being an offensive rebounder for his size and for converting putback dunks as

a guard. He jumps high for rebounds and can grab them through traffic. The situations

he excels at as a passer are drive and kick and dribble penetration, transition, and pick

and roll. On drive and kick and dribble penetration, he can get deep into the paint,

attract multiple defenders, collapse the defense, and kick it out for a catch and shoot

three-pointer. In transition, he can either find the leak-out man or get into the paint and

do a dump-off pass to the big after attracting a crowd in the paint. In the pick and roll, he

is quick to find the big rolling to the rim and set them up for a high-percentage shot

inside. He is an active defender picking up ball-handlers from the backcourt, applying

resistance, and making it tough for them to cross the half-court line. He can anticipate

getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections or using his quick, strong, and

active hands to poke the ball away, creating offense and transition opportunities from his

defense. When defending the pick and roll ball handler, he is communicative and loud

on the floor calling for switches or going through them. He is quick and has the

defensive lateral quickness to fight through picks.

Andy Gemao is a guard who is a slasher and an aggressive attacker in the paint. He is

looking to get into the paint and break down the defense, whether it is in transition as a

ball-handler and on leak-outs or in the half-court on isolations and pick and roll. His

ability to grab defensive rebounds allows him to push the pace and bring the ball up as

a ball-handler, speeding up his team's tempo. He has a quick and explosive first step to

blow by defenders. He plays with pace, changing speed and direction when bringing the

ball up, making it hard for other defenders to stay in front of him. He is more of a

straight-line driver but has shown flashes of being a crafty finisher with good footwork to

get around defenders when the paint gets crowded. He can go through bodies and is an

acrobatic finisher in the paint. He is stronger than he looks, so he can use his strength

to absorb contact, draw fouls, and get to the free-throw line. He is someone who started

seeing tough coverages, where he was being picked up full-court and matched up with

all kinds of physicality, size, and athleticism to try to slow him down. He adjusted and

operated more as a pick and roll ball-handler in these situations where his big freed him

up to get to his spots. At times, his downside is that he can get overzealous and out of

control, pushing the pace and playing fast, which makes his handle way looser, resulting

in turnovers or lost body control at the rim. He isn't a volume three-point shooter, but

when teams want to take away his drives, he has shown a willingness to take and make

them with a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He can set up teammates off

dribble penetration and drive and kick either for three-point shots or finding the big

inside with a dump-off pass. He makes athletic passes in mid-air to offset the pressure

and length he matches up against. On the defensive end, he is quick on rotations and

closing out on three-point shooters, limiting the good looks they get from three-point

range.

Written By: Layth Dahman

The Grind Session Toronto Standouts

Style of Play:

Standouts:

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