Who, What WhereGymRat ChallengeREGISTER NOW

Rob Wright

PICTURED: First Team ALL-GymRat floor GENERAL and Baylor commit Robert Wright III of Team Final. Wright is teamed with fellow ALL-GymRat performers Cooper Flagg, Deriq Queen and Ace Flagg at powerhouse Montverde Academy (FL), the undisputed No. 1 high school team in the nation. In 2022, Wright captured MVP honors in leading Team Final to the 16U GymRat LIVE chip. In 2023, he combined with Miami commit Jalil Bethea, U. CONN commit Ahmad Nowell, and Georgetown commit Thomas Sorber to lead Team Final to the 17U GymRat LIVE Championship Game before falling to Canada Elite of the UAA. Wright is ranked 24th nationally in the class of 2024. Chief Executive GymRat, John Kmack says of Wright, “Quick like a cat and strong like a bull with the ball in his hands. Defenders would have trouble taking the ball from RWIII if they were guarding him in a phone booth (…if you don’t know what that is, google it). Makes defenders play at HIS pace and he chooses if the dance is quick or deliberate. EXTREMELY adept at playing to and through contact. He leverages the contact that he creates to speed defenders up or slow them down, get them off balance, then put them in a position where they cannot properly contest his attack of the rim (see the 3rd pic in this post for a perfect illustration). Superb passer with excellent finishing ability in tight spaces. We love his game” Pics from GymRat staffer, Dan Fritz

WHO

BOYS teams in the 12U through 11th Grade divisions from across the North American continent. Teams will be accepted on a “first come, first served” basis until maximum capacity is reached.

COMPETITION DIVISIONS

In accordance with USA Basketball’s Grade and Age Eligibility Requirements, the following competition divisions will be offered at the GymRat CHALLENGE

  • 11th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 11th grade or below (as of October 1, 2023) AND cannot turn 19 prior to September 1, 2024
  • 10th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 10th grade or below (as of October 1, 2023) AND cannot turn 18 prior to September 1, 2024
  • 9th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 9th grade or below (as of October 1, 2023) AND cannot turn 17 prior to September 1, 2024
  • 14U– Athletes cannot turn 15 prior to September 1, 2024 (age division, no grade exceptions)
  • 13U– Athletes cannot turn 14 prior to September 1, 2024 (age division, no grade exceptions)
  • 12U– Athletes cannot turn 13 prior to September 1, 2024 (age division, no grade exceptions)

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION

It is the responsibility of the head coach to provide age and grade (if applicable) verification for players at any time throughout the tournament. Permitted forms of player age verification include birth certificates, passports and government-issued IDs (originals, hard copies or digital copies). Permitted forms of player grade verification include school-issued report cards or school administrator confirmation of grade issued on school letterhead (originals, hard copies or digital copies).

WHAT

ICONIC HISTORY

MORE PLAYERS ARE RECRUITED OUT OF THE GymRat CHALLENGE THAN ANY OTHER EVENT IN THE NATION. The GymRat CHALLENGE IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL AND A TRUE TEST OF BOTH BASKETBALL SKILL AND WILL WHERE TODAY’S NCAA AND NBA, STARS HAVE COME TO EARN THEIR REPUTATIONS OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF DECADES….AND WHERE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE COME TO COMPETE AGAINST THEM TO SEE HOW THEY MEASURE UP AGAINST THE BEST IN THE NATION. SINCE 1998, SOME OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS ON THE PLANET HAVE ARRIVED AT THE GymRat CHALLENGE TO COMPETE AND BE SEEN, AND EXITED THE GymRat CHALLENGE HAVING CATAPULTED THEMSELVES TO THE TOP OF RECRUITING BOARDS EVERYWHERE.

THE LIST OF GymRat CHALLENGE ALUMS IS LONG, DISTINGUISHED….AND GROWING EVERY YEAR. THAT LIST INCLUDES NBA MVP STEPH CURRY, NCAA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR & NATIONAL CHAMPIONS JIMMER FREDETTE, KEMBA WALKER & EMEKA OKAFOR PERENNIAL NBA ALL-STARS DONOVAN MITCHELL & TOBIAS HARRIS, 2018 NBA FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS MO BAMBA (#6) & KEVIN HUERTER (#19), 2019 NAISMITH NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR & DETROIT PISTON FIRST ROUND SELECTION (#16) ISAIAH STEWART, 2022 DETROIT PISTON LOTTERY PICK (#13) JALEN DUREN, 2023 NBA DRAFT CHOICES DERECK LIVELY (#12), JALEN PICKETT (#32), ANDRE JACKSON, JR (#36) & EMONI BATES (#49), DUKE LEADING SCORER & REBOUNDER KYLE FILIPOWSKI, #1 RANKED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER NATIONALLY IN THE CLASS OF 2023 & KENTUCKY COMMIT JUSTIN EDWARDS, #1 RANKED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER NATIONALLY IN THE CLASS OF 2024 & DUKE COMMIT COOPER FLAGG AS WELL AS MANY, MANY MORE. THE #1 RANKED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS IN THE NATION IN THE CLASSES OF 2021 (EMONI BATES), 2022 (DERECK LIVELY), 2023 (JUSTIN EDWARDS), AND 2024 (COOPER FLAGG) HAVE ALL COMPETED AT GymRat AND EARNED ALL-GymRat STATUS. IN ADDITION, ESPN HAS FIVE MORE GymRat ALUMS PROJECTED TO BE SLECTED IN THE 2024 NBA DRAFT IN MATAS BUZELIS (EXPRESSIONS/G LEAGUE IGNITE), JUSTIN EWARDS (TEAM FINAL/KENTUCKY), KYLE FILIPOWSKI (NY RENS/DUKE). KWAME EVANS (TEAM DURANT/OREGON), AND JJ STARLING (CITY ROCKS/SYRACUSE), WHILE COOPER FLAGG (MAINE UNITED/DUKE), WHO’S GymRat APPEARANCES BEGAN IN THE 7TH GRADE AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF HIS ELIGIBILITY, IS PROJECTED AS THE CONSENSUS #1 OVERALL PICK IN THE 2025 NBA DRAFT.

WITH UNPARALELLED COVERAGE FROM COLLEGE COACHES, SCOUTING SERVICES, AND BASKETBALL PUBLICATIONS, AS WELL AS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE & CREDIBLE EVALUATION SERVICES IN GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL, MORE PLAYERS ARE RECRUITED OUT OF THE GymRat CHALLENGE THAN ANY OTHER EVENT IN THE NATION. WITH TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL NOTORIETY ON THE LINE, THOSE THAT PERFORM WELL IN THIS HIGH VISIBILITY EVENT RECEIVE AN UNPARALLELED BOOST IN RECRUITING EXPOSURE. EACH YEAR SEVERAL ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE SELECTIONS ARE TABBED BY THE GymRat CHALLENGE EVALUATION TEAM AS RISING MEMBERS OF THEIR CLASSES BOTH NATIONALLY AS WELL AS REGIONALLY IN THEIR HOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. ALL OF THIS, COMBINED WITH A REPUTATION AS THE BEST ORGANIZED EVENT IN THE NATION, MAKES THE GymRat CHALLENGE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE AND COMPETITIVE STOPS ON THE SUMMER BASKETBALL SCHEDULE.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

FORMAT

  • THREE game guarantee with additional games for Championship Round qualifiers
  • THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE & CREDIBLE EVALUATION SERVICES IN GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL GymRat Evaluation Team on hand throughout the weekend for talent evaluation & selection of All-GymRat CHALLENGE team and MVPs in each age division for inclusion in the GymRat REPORT that is available to every college coach in the nation.
  • Potential for MAXIMUM of 6 games over the event weekend
  • POOL PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
  • POOL PLAY concludes at 11:15 AM on the final day of competition
  • Pool Champions & potential Wildcard teams advance to the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND beginning at 1:35 PM on the final day of competition
  • CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND format includes
  • Bracket play based on POOL PLAY performance and resulting CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND seed
  • Single elimination with MAXIMUM of three games in CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND play
  • Champions awarded in each CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND bracket
  • This three-game maximum CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND formatreduces fatigue and results in higher quality performance in all brackets of the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
  • This format allows all CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND qualifiers to play a minimum of one and a maximum of three games in this highly competitive round.
  • This format preserves the legendary trademark Championship–style of the GymRat CHALLENGE, allows for national recognition for winners in all brackets, and allows for early conclusion times for all teams.
  • Certified referees for all games.
  • Athletic Trainers on site
  • STAY TO PLAYDiscounted HOTEL rates for all participants are contractually GUARANTEED to be the lowest available on GymRat event weekends. View hotel requirements & options at http://gymratchallenge.com/boys-event/team-hotel-requirements/

WHERE

IMPACT Athletic Center

The beautiful and brand-new Impact Athletic Center (above) along with the state-of-the-art Albany Capital Center (below), Siena College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Hudson Valley Community College will host the 2024 GymRat CHALLENGE. Located within minutes of each other, the GymRat CHALLENGE’s tremendous host facilities are easily accessible from the North, South, East, or West. With over twenty , permanent full courts, these complexes are ideal sites for a major grassroots basketball event from participants’, fans’, and recruiters’ perspectives. For a detailed breakdown of competition venues by Age Division. visit https://gymratchallenge.com/boys-event/game-sites-directions/

WHEN

MAY 25-26, 2024

HOW

REGISTRATION FEES
  • From November 1st through December 31st:
  • $425 for teams in the 8th through 11th Grade divisions
  • $325 for teams in the 12U & 13U divisions
  • January 1st & beyond:
  • $525 for teams in the 8th through 11th Grade divisions
  • $425 for teams in the 12U & 13U divisions
  • Multi-team discounts available. Call 1-888-7-GYMRAT (1-888-749-6728) for details.
Amir Lindsey

PICTURED: AMIR LINDSEY of BABC (3SSB). A two-sport star, 4.0 student, and renowned leader at The Rivers School, Lindsey was pursued by Division I collegiate basketball and football programs. Lindsey chose the roundball over the pigskin and committed to Coach Dwayne Killings and the U. Albany Great Danes. Photo by Dan Fritz, GymRat Staff.