Under Armour Grind Session Debuts This Weekend In Chicago
Words. Aron Phillips
From September 23-25 in Chicago, more than 50 of country’s best high school basketball players will hone their skills and put their commitment to training on full display at the first annual Under Armour Grind Session. The two-day event will combine Under Armour and IMG Acadamies’ proprietary combine training platform and measurement system, Combine360, with basketball-specific skill development drills and organized scrimmages.
Players will receive hands-on coaching, intense training and be able to test their game through a skill development curriculum developed by Under Armour Basketball. Derrick Williams and Jay Williams will be onsite to assist in drills and share insights on life as a student athlete.
“The Under Armour Grind Session is built for players that are serious about their game and getting better every time they step on the court,” says Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing for Under Armour. “Players will work hard and learn what it takes to reach their full potential. This fits our mission to make athletes better.”
The event marks the first time high school basketball players will have the opportunity to test and evaluate their game using the proprietary Combine360 measurement system. Combine360 creates a benchmark and customized recommendation for improving athletic performance. Athletes who utilize Combine360 receive a performance profile that illustrates their score from each of the following elements: athleticism, movement and character.
“The Under Armour Grind Session players will be exposed to the same training philosophies that our elite-level high school players and countless first-round draft picks and NBA and international veterans experience year-round,” says Andy Borman, Director of IMG Basketball Academy. “These players will receive pro-level training years before they ever enter the professional ranks.”
Trainers Jay Hernandez and Hanif Hill will oversee the skill development curriculum with support from select high school coaches who will also manage organized scrimmages. Hernandez currently trains a number of NBA players including Kemba Walker. Hill trains elite professional and amateur players including a number of NBA All-Stars. IMG Academies’ trainers will run players through a combine test developed to evaluate and identify athletic strengths and weaknesses.
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Hey, I’d love to see some vids about this grind session. Any will be published at a later date?