Experience Academy (TN) 2026-27 Player Profiles
Formed in 2016, Experience Academy (EA) is a post-graduate basketball program located in Johnson City, Tennessee, right across the street from East Tennessee State University. It offers student-athletes a college-like environment with access to significant training facilities, including workout spaces and basketball courts, for athletic, academic, and personal development as future college players. Since its inception, EA has successfully placed over 125 participants into college basketball.
The program provides elite basketball training coupled with a challenging post-grad/prep game schedule. It is a nine-month basketball immersion program, beginning in mid-August. The first two months are dedicated to training, conditioning, and workouts from early in the morning to late in the afternoon. The game season starts in late October and includes travel across the USA, with players staying in hotels or Airbnb rentals. The last games of the season will be played in March, allowing players to build their bodies and focus on recruiting after that.
During the season, the team will play 42-48 games. Their opponents will include other nationally ranked academies, D1 junior colleges and JV teams from D2, D3, or NAIA universities.
To get a video peek at the Experience Academy program, click here.
The team is head coached by the founder, Patrick Grayson, and he is assisted by Eric Cross. Coach Grayson brings both playing and coaching experience to the program. As a player, Grayson competed in the 2006 Los Angeles Summer Pro League, the Kentucky Summer Pro League, the Elite Summer League, and the NBA Development League (now the G League). As a coach, Grayson served as a volunteer assistant coach at King University, where he was part of an NCAA D2 Conference Championship team in 2016 under head coach George Pitts, who is known for his basketball IQ and creative style of play.
The 2026-27 team will be featuring the players profiled below.
#0 Mickell Taylor (2027) 5'11 point guard - From Teaneck, NJ, Taylor is a top guard, named 2025-26 All-State and All County. He finished his high school career with 1,799 points and was named 1st League three years in a row. He is a point guard to keep your eyes on and is sure to impress. 3.7 gpa @_juju2007
#1 Aakash "AK" Ashok (2027) 6'0 guard - From Frisco, TX, Ashok is an athletic and makes good reads and paint touches, can shoot the ball and does impressive dunks. 3.9 gpa @11k1sh
#2 Garrett Henry (2027) 6'4 guard - From Havelock, NC, Hemry is an athletic combo guard with a knockdown 3, good mid-range, and looking to take bodies. He is a conference tournament champ. 2.4 gpa @GarrettHemry2
#3 Jalan Little (2027) 6'1 guard - From Puyallup, WA, Lillie is a tough, pure shooter that can play above the rim. He is willing to do dirty work. Little was named his team's MVP for the last three years. 3.0 gpa @JalanLillie
#4 TJ Tunstall (2027) 6'1 guard - From Dacula, GA, Tunstall was named has an aggressive offense game, with crazy 3FG range and is able to get stops. 2025-26 Gwinnett County All Star and All Region. 3.4 gpa @tj_tunstall
#5 Noah Melton (2027) 5'10 point guard - From Stone Mountain, GA, Melton is a shifty, gets paint touches and can shoot the rock. 2.3 gpa @noahmel0
#10 Isaiah Boutros (2027) 6'5 small forward - From Carmel, IN, Boutros is vocal, can box out, rebound, and he can also shoot the 3. Hoe is a high character kid with lots of potential. 3.2 gpa @isaiah_boutros3
#11 Emontae Gourdine (2027) 5'11 point guard - From McDonough, GA. Gourdine is fast, goes hard, makes the extra pass, hits open shots, and has a great attitude. 3.0 gpa @montaee13
#12 Maim Penić (2027) 6'0 shooting guard - From Canada, Penić is tough and able to do the dirty work. He is coachable and serious about playing at the next level. 3.0 gpa @maximpenic
#13 D'Quill Osbey (2027) 6'1 guard - From Berkeley Lake, GA. Osbey has a smooth fundamental game, he can shoot at a high percentage, loves to compete, protect the basketball and create for others. 3.9 gpa @dquill_osbey
#14 Rashaun "RJ" Watson (2027) 6'3 guard - From Belleville, IL. Watson is a tough combo guard who makes good reads, drives and finishes, plays defense, has a solid mid-range and can shoot the 3. 2.4 gpa @Rj08955399
#15 Daishaun Howard (2027) 6'0 shooting guard - From Pulaski, TN, Howard plays with effort and keeps his game simple but effective. He plays defense and can shoot. 3.5 gpa @daishaunhoward
#20 Jeremih Williams (2027) 6'0 guard - From Bridgeport, WV. Williams is a combo guard who is a pesky defender that can get stops and can shoot the 3. 3.0 gpa @JeremihWil59635
#21 Deon Dixon (2027) 6'6 wing - From Sylvania, GA, Dixon can shoot the ball, play defense, and finish around the rim. 3.1 gpa @3d_hooper1
#22 Troyce Harrison (2027) 6'0 guard - From Patterson, CA, Harrison is a scoring guard. He is also an athletic defender and rebounder. He can shoot and slash and finish above the rim. 2.9 gpa @Laron257453163
#23 Diondre Jackson (2027) 6'6 small forward - From Jefferson City, TN. Jackson is athletic can block shots, dunk with ease, finish above rim, and shoot. 3.0 gpa @DiondreJackson5
#24 Jomir Johnson (2027) 6'4 small forward - From Bloomingdale, GA, Johnson is a lengthy guard, who has a good mid-range game, can get rebounds, and plays defense. 3.2 gpa
#25 Malik Cauthen (2027) 6'3 guard - From Belleview, FL, Cauthen is a combo guard who provides a strong defensive presence and good rebounding game, he also has a solid mid-range and will do the dirty jobs. 2.6 gpa
To accommodate college scout visits, Experience Academy holds a schedule of Fall Open Gym runs, the details of which can be found in the title graphic above..
The team's 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.