As the 2026 travel basketball season approaches, a new contender in the Class of 2032 is preparing to emerge on the national stage. South Florida–based The Academy, a newly founded program led by financier and basketball investor Jona Elisco, enters the spring positioned as one of the most intriguing new programs in grassroots basketball.
Built around a roster featuring multiple nationally ranked prospects, The Academy was assembled with the intention of competing immediately against elite competition. The program will primarily participate on the Puma NXTPRO Circuit, a five-stop schedule that begins in April and includes events in Detroit, Orlando, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, before concluding with the NXTPRO Finals in Orlando, Florida.
Much of The Academy’s core comes from last season’s Nightrydas squad, a program that finished among the nation’s top 10 in its class. Now under the leadership of Coach Tae Garth, the roster blends positional versatility, size, and high-level skill. Key contributors include Aydin Garth (5’7”/PG/IN), Moe Miller (5’10”/CG/FL), Cam Owens (5’11”/WF/FL), Kam Thomas (6’1”/PF/GA), B.J. Young (6’1”/PF/TN), Jaius Ingram (6’3”/ C/FL), and Luca Elisco (5’4”/PG/FL).
“We’re two steps ahead of where we were last year, and we’ve found the right blend of players,” Elisco said when discussing the program’s expectations entering the season.
While the team’s schedule is selective, The Academy is expected to face top-tier opposition throughout the NXTPRO Circuit. Sources indicate that Coach Rivers’ nationally top-ranked 1 of 1 program will also compete on the circuit, creating the potential for a marquee matchup within the 2032 class.
With proven talent, experienced coaching, and a national platform, The Academy enters the spring as a program poised to establish itself quickly among the country’s elite. Their development and performance will be closely monitored throughout the 2026 travel season.
