MODE Prep knew this season would be a test for them. As Spokane’s first-ever boys basketball program to join a national prep circuit, the coaching staff and administrators understood that stepping onto the Grind Session stage would come with growing pains. But even through early adversity, the program has already begun to show strong signs of what it can become.

Head coach Jon Adams describes this group as the program’s “pilot team.” Everything is new—travel, scheduling, recruiting strategy, roster building, and identifying which national events truly matter. Still, Adams believes the foundation is being set in the right way.

A Season Built Around Player Development

When MODE Prep launched the idea of a national program last year, the plan was ambitious: three full teams, including a senior national squad, a junior national group, and a high school team competing in Washington’s 1B or 2B classification. However, as spring and summer evaluations unfolded, the coaching staff decided to focus solely on the senior national team for the first year.

Even then, depth quickly became an issue. Injuries forced the team to begin the season with just six healthy players, and early practices often required assistant coaches to jump in to run functional scrimmages. Adams expects roster additions as the year progresses, but the players have embraced the challenge.

“Right now, there’s no shortage of minutes. Everyone is playing because everyone has to play,” Adams said.

Guard Matt Cummins, who played last season at Utah Prep, sees advantages in having a smaller, tighter-knit group. “We’re always together, so you can’t really beat that,” he said.

Competitive Fire Despite Early Losses

MODE Prep opened its first tournament 0–3, but every game was decided by fewer than 10 points. The next event brought a 1–2 record, and momentum continued last week with a 2–1 showing—including a statement win over the AZ Compass second unit, a team still loaded with Division I-level talent.

To Adams, the narrow losses say something important: the gap isn’t large. “It’s a four- or five-possession difference, and we win these games,” he said. The players feel those missed opportunities, and the competitive frustration is a sign of belief—not defeat.

A Growing Identity

Two early tone-setters for MODE Prep have been Cummins and 6-foot-7 wing Vuk Zelic, a Serbian prospect who previously played at Christ the King in New York. Both athletes bring valuable prep-circuit experience, leadership, and a calming presence.

Zelic came to the U.S. to chase his basketball dreams, embracing a faster, more physical American style of play. He still keeps close contact with family in Serbia but is building a second home with his teammates. Adams describes him as “a coach on the floor” whose composure sets the tone for the program.

Cummins has stepped naturally into a leadership role as well. After a year competing at Utah Prep, he understands the expectations and intensity of the national circuit. “As a team, I feel like it’s gonna be more important that we keep stacking wins and doing better in front of coaches,” he said.

What’s Next

MODE Prep—ranked No. 24 on the Grind Session circuit—now prepares for its next matchup against Elite Prep (Seattle) at North Idaho College on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. With an eight-player active roster representing Nevada, Idaho, and multiple international backgrounds, the team continues to gel and gain confidence.

Cummins summarized the journey best: “We might have started a little rough, but we're good now.”

The growth is real, the culture is forming, and MODE Prep’s first season on the national stage is well underway.