PICTURED-17U GymRat MVP JORDYN PALMER of Philly Rise flies to the rim to finish against a foul during Championship Game action. Palmer is ranked by 24/7 Sports at the #4 prospect nationally in the class of 2027. The defending Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year from The Westtown School arguably impacts games in more ways than any other player on the continent. Among the most sought after recruits in America, Palmer has offers from every major college in the country including U. CONN, South Carolina, LSU, Notre Dame, Louisville and Texas (Photo Miles Knussman, GymRat Staff)

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

In accordance with USA Basketball’s Grade and Age Eligibility Requirements, the following competition divisions will be offered at the GymRat CHALLENGE. These Age Eligibility Requirements are the same for ALL participants and participating teams regardless of whether those teams are based in the United States or internationally. NO EXCEPTIONS are allowed for teams based outside of the United States.

• 11th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 11th grade or below (as of October 1, 2025) AND cannot turn 19 prior to September 1, 2026
  • Players that are in 12th Grade as of October 1, 2025 and are attending Prep School in the Fall of 2026 must be able to provide an Admissions Department letter verifying they’re acceptance into a Prep School for the Fall of 2026. Players that are in 12th Grade as of October 1, 2025 and cannot provide an Admissions Department letter verifying their acceptance into a Prep School for the Fall of 2026 are INELIGIBLE to compete at GymRat Events.
  • Regardless of “committed” status, players that will be attending college in the Fall of 2026 are INELIGIBLE to compete at GymRat Events.
  • In order to be eligible to compete in 2026 GymRat Events, players must have remaining high school eligibility and must be exercising that remaining high school eligibility in the Fall of 2026,
• 10th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 10th grade or below (as of October 1, 2025) AND cannot turn 18 prior to September 1, 2026
• 9th Grade– Athletes must be enrolled in the 9th grade or below (as of October 1, 2025) AND cannot turn 17 prior to September 1, 2026
• 14U– Athletes cannot turn 15 prior to September 1, 2026 (age division, no grade exceptions)
• 13U– Athletes cannot turn 14 prior to September 1, 2026 (age division, no grade exceptions)
• 12U– Athletes cannot turn 13 prior to September 1, 2026 (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).

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 WNBA, stars have come to earn their reputations over the past four decades….and where thousands of others have come to compete against them to see how they measure up against the best in the nation. From McDonald’s All-Americans to Gatorade National High School Players of the Year to NCAA National Champions, All-Americans & Naismith National Players of the Year, to WNBA All-Stars, MVPs & Champions to Olympic Gold Medalists, since 1998, some of the greatest players on the planet have arrived in Albany, NY to compete at GymRat, and exited the GymRat CHALLENGE having catapulted themselves to the top of recruiting boards across the country.

With unparalleled 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 Events than any other events 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 selections are tabbed by the legendary 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

With teams throughout the country building their national schedules to include this event, the GymRat CHALLENGE is guaranteed to be SOLD-OUT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE OPENING TIP-OFF. TEAMS THAT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GymRat CHALLENGE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE THEIR PROGRAM’S SPOT IN THE TOURNAMENT FIELD, AVOID THE WAITING LIST, & GAIN ACCESS TO ANNUAL EARLY REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

• 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

The GymRat CHALLENGE maintains a strict STAY TO PLAY POLICY. All teams needing hotel space are required to book through GymRat’s hotel logistics partner, Halpern Travel. Teams booking hotel space outside of this system will be removed from the event schedule. Discounted HOTEL rates for all participants are contractually GUARANTEED to be the lowest available on GymRat event weekends. View hotel requirements & options at https://www.gymratchallenge.com/girls-event/team-hotel-requirements/

The beautiful and brand-new Impact Athletic Center along with the state-of-the-art Albany Capital Center, Siena College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Hudson Valley Community College will host the GIRLS 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….NO PLAYING ON PLASTIC TILES, 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://www.gymratchallenge.com/girls-event/game-sites-directions/

• To Register visit https://app.gymratchallenge.com/gymrat/
• Toll Free Phone: 888.7.GYMRAT (888.749.6728)
• Email: COMPETE@GymRatCHALLENGE.com
• TWITTER: @GymRatCHALLENGE
• INSTAGRAM:  @TheRealGymRatCHALLENGE
• Tournament Executive Director: John Kmack

There are few guarantees in life….death, taxes, and the GymRat CHALLENGE WILL SELL OUT EVERY YEAR as one of the most ICONIC events in the history of grassroots basketball where more players are recruited than any other event in the nation. Registration begins annually on November 1st with the restricted EARLY REGISTATION period (Returning Teams only) and continues with the beginning of unrestricted National Registration on January 1st with pricing as shown below. For more information, be sure to follow @TheREALGymRatCHALLENGE on Instagram, and @GymRatCHALLENGE on X. We look forward to seeing you in 2025, so get in EARLY….or somebody else WILL have your spot!

EARLY REG (Returning Teams ONLY): November 1st through December 31st

• $425 for teams in the 8th through 11th Grade divisions
• $325 for teams in the 12U & 13U divisions

UNRESTRICTED NATIONAL REG: January 1st & beyond

• $525 for teams in the 8th through 11th Grade divisions
• $425 for teams in the 12U & 13U divisions

MULTI-TEAM DISCOUNTS. Call 1-888-7-GYMRAT (1-888-749-6728) for details

• 3-4 teams from the same program = 10% discount
• 5-9 teams from the same program = 15% discount
• 10+ teams from the same program = 20% discount
• NOT available in combination with EARLY REG discounts

PICTURED: ALL-GymRat selection TYEERA HOWARD floats and finishes for the NY GAUCHOS 3SSB. The class of 2028 Neptune (NJ) High School stand-out has received an offer from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with more to follow. (Photo, Miles Knussman, GymRat Staff).