HILO — A week of elite hoops, community giving and family fun wrapped up Monday afternoon at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo town.
Grind Session Hawai‘i, organized by the prestigious Grind Session preparatory winter circuit and Hilo native Jason Mandaquit, was primarily held at the Civic from Thursday to Monday. Multiple basketball-related events were held, including a Grind Session teams tournament, a classic high school tournament and a middle school slate of games.
Marquee mainland teams such as Utah Prep, Prolific Prep, Albuquerque Prep, Elite Prep and Salesian College Prep made the flight to the Big Island to compete. A handful of Hawai‘i teams from the outer islands also made the trek to Hilo.
The five-day ended Monday with Big Island feeder programs such as Hokulele, Hilo, DNA and the Kona Stingrays playing their games, followed by a Hilo High alumni matchup between the current Vikings’ boys team and various alumni of the school, including Mandaquit.
“I think the week went really well,” he told West Hawaii Today prior to tipoff. “As far as the tournament itself, everything went very smoothly. I think it was great basketball and the crowd showed out. We had a great show.”
The tournament had no shortage of talent. Utah Prep wing A.J. Dybantsa, the consensus No. 1-ranked player in the 2025 class and presumptive No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft, excited the audience with his superb play in Hilo — being named ‘Player of the Game’ in his team’s second matchup of the week.
“This was my first time ever in Hawai‘i, so being able to play here, learn a little bit about the culture and try new foods was an amazing experience,” Dybantsa said.
Dybantsa recently committed to play for Brigham Young University (BYU) next fall, agreeing to one of the most lucrative Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals in college sports history, reportedly valued between $5-7 million.
“Overall, I’m just trying to win,” Dybantsa said when asked about his collegiate objectives. “I also want to be an exciting player (for the fans), so I really want to try to mix in both (winning and entertaining).”
Additionally, Dybantsa’s teammates had a special homecoming over the week. Guards J.J. Mandaquit (Hilo native) and Layden Kauka (Kohala native) played in front of their hometown crowds in the tournament, receiving warm ovations for their basketball achievements on the mainland.
Mandaquit is a four-star recruit who is committed to play for the University of Washington in 2025-26. Named ‘Player of the Game’ in Utah Prep’s first tournament win Friday, Mandaquit made a half-court heave against Elite Prep to help seal the 105-63 victory. At the end of the matchup, the crowd gave Mandaquit a standing ovation as he embraced with his father walking off the floor.
“That was a special moment for our family,” Jason Mandaquit added.
Growing up learning the game in East Hawai‘i gymnasiums, J.J. Mandaquit viewed the week as a full-circle moment for how far he has ascended in his basketball career.
“Being able to kiss the Big Island on the floor and getting the ovation…that’s what you dream of as a kid,” he said. “It was unbelievable to come back and see the community support, knowing this might be my last time ever playing at this gym on this island in front of my people. It was special.”
Mandaquit also attributed much of his success to his upbringing on the Big Island, explaining that his homeland helped spark his passion for the game that still exists today.
“The roots are deep here on the Big Island,” he said. “I’m super passionate about where I come from, and every time I step on the floor, I play with a chip on my shoulder. I think it’s very evident when you watch me play — how much passion I play with, and it’s because I know that I’m playing for something way bigger than myself.
“Every time I step out there, I’m trying to represent my name, my family’s name and where I come from in the best way I can.”
Kauka, who won two DII state championships with Kohala in 2023 and 2024, felt similarly to Mandaquit. The Cowboys also played in the tournament, allowing Kauka to watch and catch up with his old teammates and coaches.
“It was an honor to come back and play in front of the people of Hawai‘i on the Big Island,” Kauka said. “I moved away to a different state, but Hawai‘i is always going to be my home and it will always be in my heart. I’ll always represent Hawai‘i.”
In his first season of playing mainland basketball, Kauka admitted that it’s been a big challenge, but the junior has trusted the process of improving day by day.
“I know I’m getting better because I’m going against A.J. (Dybantsa) and J.J. (Mandaquit) all the time, and that’s the best way to improve. I feel like if I continue to put in the hard work every day, it’ll pay off.”
Outside of the basketball games, the tournament organized charitable events to give back to the community, such as a free keiki hoops clinic on Thursday at Panaewa Gymnasium and a partnership with Hale Pulekeolahou Church during the event’s ‘Family Fun Day’ on Friday — handing out meals to the Keaukaha and Panaewa communities outside of the Civic.
For Mandaquit and Kauka, helping give back to their hometowns was one of the most rewarding outcomes of the week, as Utah Prep’s team gave a hand in both events.
“I want to be known as more than a basketball player; I want to be a great person,” Mandaquit reflected. “Being able to give back to the kids and to the community felt great. Being there for the kids (at the keiki clinic) and not only showing them a good time on the court, but also just being there for them to be able to talk to me and ask questions was special. Hopefully, they saw a different side of me, because I know everybody just sees me on the basketball court. And being able to help the church was great.”
“The keiki camp was really fun — the kids showed out,” Kauka added. “We got to interact with a lot of the kids, signed some gear, gave them gear. Serving food to the community was a great experience as well. Whenever I get the opportunity to give back, it’s special.”
With the week being such a success, Jason Mandaquit is confident that he can help bring Grind Session back to Hawai‘i for years to come.
“I tried my hardest to put on the best event possible this year, not just for the people in our community, but for the Grind Session owners and the people who were all a part of making this event happen,” he said. “The feedback I got from everyone was that this was the best thing they could have imagined. It was great for everyone. Everyone seems like they want to make this happen as an annual event. We’re going to have to work really hard to try and make it bigger and better every year.”
