The Grind Session women’s notebook
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Lawrenceville, GA – Whenever the Grind Session pulls up to any city, the crowds come out for the boys games because those players are known on a national stage. The women’s portion of the schedule was filled with excellent individual performances.
These players have put in the work to compete in a league loaded with talent. They too will soon be known on the national stage. Here are some players to keep an eye one in the future.
Grind Prep goes undefeated
The Oklahoma based program came to Atlanta and left undefeated. They beat Legion Prep Academy, 70-63, and Fort Erie, 74-69. This team averaged 72 points in the two games played. Grind needed a second-half surge to beat Fort Erie behind Jayla Constant’s 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
The Class of 2026 prospect holds offers from Charlotte, Colorado State, Delaware, Eastern Michigan, Fairfield, Louisiana, Mississippi State, Oklahoma St, Ole Miss, Pennsylvania, Stephen F Austin, Tulane, UNLV, and UT-Arlington.
Da’Nae Jefferson, a junior, averaged a near double-double on the weekend averaging 18.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.5 assists, and three steals. Her dominating performance shows why so many programs are keeping tabs as she holds offers from Eastern Michigan, George Washington, Lindenwood, Longwood, Northern Colorado, and Quinnipiac.
Battle leads DME Academy
Gigi Battle flexed her scoring prowess over the weekend. The New Jersey native averaged 20 points a game in DME’s victories over Arizona’s Bella Vista Prep, and Canada’s Bond Academy. She also averaged seven rebounds in the wins.
This class of 2026 product is a highly touted recruit with offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Columbia, Georgia, Georgia Tech, George Washington, Harvard, Illinois, Maryland, Miami, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Princeton, Rutgers, Syracuse, Villanova, and Wisconsin.
Battle wasn’t the only DME standout. Lara Barnes played hard on both ends of the floor for the Florida based program. The Class of 2025 Turkish prospect has excellent hands and a solid motor with the ability to play on the post and in the open floor. She holds offers from Colorado State, Elon, Gardner-Webb, George Mason, Georgia State, North Florida, Towson, UNC Greensboro, William & Mary, and VCU.
Two intriguing prospects on the DME roster was Sophia Bologna, and Tessa Gladieux. Both play with high energy and are elite level shooters. They are scrappy and play with a continuity. Gladieux, a Raleigh, NC native, is a 5-foot-11 junior with offers from North Florida, Stetson, and UNC Wilmington. She is a sharpshooter with a tremendous heart and superb IQ.
Bologna, a junior, shoots the ball well from all over the floor. She is crafty and runs the team at a high level. The Albany, NY native holds offers from Bryant, North Florida, St. John’s and UNc Wilmington.
Honorable Mention
Luisa Parra – Hamilton Heights – played really on both ends for the Tennessee based program. The Bogota, Colombia native is a good interior player with great hands and a soft touch. She has great footwork too. This junior forward is a double double producer any time she steps on the floor.
Gabriela Bernal – The Academy of Central Florida – had a strong performances in the teams only appearance in Atlanta. The 6-foot-2 forward, from Paraguay, knows how to establish her position inside and has moves turning off both shoulders. Her touch around the rim is efficient. She helped the Golden Bulls with a 58-52 win over Fort Erie with a 14 point and 13 rebound performance. Any college program still in search of an interior player in the Class of 2025 may want to watch Bernal play.
Aïsseé Coulibaly – Hamilton Heights – is flying under the radar but will soon get on some coaches list soon. The Paris, France native can score the ball from various points of the floor. She has a smooth feel for the game. The 5-foot-9 senior guards knack for scoring is impressive.
Sophie Morales – Bella Vista Prep – certainly knows how to run a team. The 5-foot-4 point guard played the position in complete control. She pushed the ball up the floor and handles it on a string. Her court vision threaded passes to teammates in transition and for easy buckets. The Call State University commit has a big heart and major skills. She has tremendous pace in her game.
Danica Lazic – Hamilton Heights – shot the ball really well over the weekend. The junior guard has a quick release and a level of consistency from the perimeter. This Cacak, Serbia product is a smooth shooter who will get plenty of attention from college coaches come this summer.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.