Twenty Four Basketball Academy from Dubai has landed the only UAE invitation to the 2027 Grind Session in the United States. This is the top winter high school basketball circuit in North America. For a UAE team, getting into this league is rare. The academy's players will now go head-to-head with the best high school teams on the continent.
The official Grind Session site has already published 2026-27 season coverage, showing that the upcoming cycle is being actively promoted and organized well in advance.
Twenty Four's invitation comes after a year packed with wins. The academy, founded in Dubai in 2024 to grow youth talent, started strong by winning a major domestic league title. They beat one of the UAE's top junior teams in the final. The team then went abroad and won two international championships-one in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in January, and another in Montenegro in June. Back in the UAE, they picked up a second domestic title in the country's toughest youth league.
The academy's focus on player growth has paid off. Two standout players earned scholarships to high schools in Florida and Phoenix, giving them a shot at both academics and basketball in the US. Four others got called up to national teams: two for Lebanon, one for Jordan, and one for Syria. This mix of team trophies and individual progress has set Twenty Four apart in UAE basketball.
Recent coverage by UAE Cuesports highlights that the UAE national basketball team achieved a 115-89 victory over Oman, reflecting a 26-point margin and signaling competitive momentum in the country's basketball ecosystem. Additionally, current UAE youth and academy sports coverage points to an active domestic basketball academy and youth-program infrastructure, supporting the plausibility of overseas pathways like Grind Session for top UAE prospects.
For the 2027 Grind Session, Twenty Four will send a Dubai-based team to compete in weekend games starting in late March. They will face the most established US high school basketball programs. Termanini sees this as proof the academy is moving in the right direction: "Being chosen to represent the UAE at the 2027 Grind Session confirms we are on the right path, and more importantly, it gives our players a new opportunity to compete at a higher level. We are excited for this challenge and eager to prove our players' abilities."
The Grind Session's international development chief, Bryan Clifton, welcomed the Dubai academy's entry. He said, "Basketball has truly become a global sport, with talent emerging from all corners. We are pleased to welcome Twenty Four Basketball Academy from Dubai to the Grind Session. The academy has made remarkable progress since its founding, achieving success both locally and internationally, making this participation a natural next step."
Having a UAE team in the Grind Session is a milestone for Twenty Four and a sign that the region is gaining ground in global basketball. As the UAE puts more resources into youth sports and international events, the path for local players to reach the top is becoming clearer. This matches the country's wider ambitions in sport, as seen in recent coverage of UAE goals at the Asian Games.
Twenty Four's rise from a Dubai start-up to a contender in North America's toughest high school league is no accident. It comes from focused development, tough competition, and a drive to test players against the best. The academy's quick climb and international attention show what's possible for UAE youth sport. It is a model for how local ambition can open doors on the world stage. Other UAE academies may soon follow this lead.
