FIBA Photo
With all eyes turned to Paris, France for the 2024 Olympic Games, 10 hoopers with ties to the Grind Session are representing their respective countries and vying for a medal in men’s basketball.
Of the 10 athletes, four played for Grind Session teams, while the other six competed on the circuit at various points during their high school careers.
“We’re so proud of our alumni who are competing in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris,” said Grind Session CEO Scott Waldrop. “On behalf of the entire Grind Session, we’re thrilled to celebrate their well-earned honors of representing their home nations and we’ll be cheering for them as they compete against the world’s best athletes.”
Here’s a comprehensive guide for basketball fans interested in learning the backgrounds of those Grind Session alumni comprising the 2024 Olympic men’s basketball rosters.
AUSTRALIA
• Josh Green played his sophomore year of high school basketball with Grind Session team Hillcrest Prep (AZ), where he helped lead the team to the 2017 Grind Session World Championship. A former first round NBA draft pick and current shooting guard for the Charlotte Hornets, Green was part of the Australian basketball team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
CANADA
• Jamal Murray played most of his high school career at the Grind Session’s Orangeville Prep (ON, CAN), before playing one season of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and in 2023 helped the team capture its first championship in franchise history.
• Luguentz Dort played for three different Grind Session teams – Arlington Country Day (FL), The Conrad Academy (FL), and Athlete Institute (ON, CAN) – during his high school campaign. As a junior, he committed to play college basketball for Arizona State, becoming the program’s most touted recruit since James Harden in 2007. After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Dort signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he remains today.
• Shai Gilgeous- Alexander played in the Grind Session’s Marshall County Hoopfest during his senior season with Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (TN). He was a first-round draft pick (11th overall) of the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 and currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He previously won the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup with the Canadian national basketball team.
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker played in the Grind Session’s Marshall County Hoopfest during his senior season with Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (TN). He was a first-round draft pick (17th overall) of the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 and currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He previously led Canada to the silver medal at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship and competed for Canada with the senior national team in the Olympic qualifiers in 2021.
SERBIA
• Uros Plavsic played in the Grind Session’s Lighthouse Classic event as a senior year with Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (TN). He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers and currently plays professionally for Crvena Zvezda of the Serbian KLS, the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague.
SOUTH SUDAN
• Jackson Makoi played for three different Grind Session teams – The Tech Academy (ON, CAN), Victory Rock Prep (FL), and St. Louis Christian (MO) – during his prep career, winning the Grind Session World Championship with Victory Rock in 2018. He currently plays for the Cairns Taipans of the Australian National Basketball League. Internationally, Makoi has played for the South Sudan national basketball team since 2020.
• Wenyen Gabriel played in the Grind Session’s Bluegrass Showcase his senior year with Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, before bouncing around the NBA for five seasons with seven different teams. He currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague.
• JT Thor played in multiple Grind Session events during his sophomore season as a member of Huntington Prep (WV). After one collegiate season with the Auburn Tigers, he was selected in the second round (37th overall) of the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. He played three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and is currently a free agent.
USA
• Jayson Tatum played in the Grind Session’s Marshall County Hoopfest event as a senior with Chaminade College Preparatory School (MO). He played one year of college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, before being selected by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. As a member of the Celtics, Tatum won the 2024 NBA title and is a five-time NBA All-Star
By MICHAEL MISETIC, Grind Session
