Elite NCAA schools zero in on City of Palms talent

Top-flight recruits committed to Villanova, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, Auburn, Maryland, Memphis and Virginia Tech will soon play in Fort Myers. The 46th annual Culligan City of Palms Classic features six of the top 25 players in the current ESPN 100 Class of 2019 college basketball recruiting rankings.

The event returns this year to Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College from Dec. 17-22. Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams and other college basketball luminaries have appeared in the stands over the years for what has become a must-see talent showcase.

“This year’s field proves once again why the Culligan City of Palms Classic is the No. 1 high school tournament in America,” tournament Executive Director John Naylor said. “You’d be hard-pressed to find this much basketball talent in one place anywhere in the world.”

Cole Anthony, now at national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) after an offseason transfer, supplies the brightest star power, along with the duo of Vernon Carey Jr. and Scottie Barnes from defending City of Palms champion University School (Fort Lauderdale). All three are listed within the top five of their respective recruiting classes in ESPN’s rankings.

The trio remain uncommitted, but nine players from the ESPN 100 who’ve chosen elite NCAA schools are also City of Palms-bound:

· Josh Green, IMG Academy (Bradenton) — Arizona

· Armando Bacot, IMG Academy (Bradenton) — North Carolina

· D.J. Jeffries, Olive Branch (Olive Branch, Mississippi) — Memphis

· Tre Mann, The Villages Charter School (The Villages) — Florida

· Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, IMG Academy (Bradenton) — Villanova

· Isaac Okoro, McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) — Auburn

· Makhi Mitchell, Woodrow Wilson (District Heights, Maryland) — Maryland

· Anthony Harris, Paul VI (Fairfax, Virginia) — Virginia Tech

· Tyrell Jones, West Oaks Academy (Orlando) — Auburn

The field of teams for this year’s Culligan City of Palms Classic is just as impressive, with five of the top 10 schools in the Ballislife.com Fab 50 national rankings. Oak Hill is No. 2 on that list, followed by IMG Academy (Bradenton) at No. 4, University School at No. 5, Imhotep Charter School (Philadelphia) at No. 7 and Paul VI (Fairfax, Virginia) at No. 9.

The event begins with free admission to a clash between intracity rivals Fort Myers and Canterbury on Monday, Dec. 17 at 12:30 p.m. Also new this year is the five-game North Law Firm City of Palms Premiere, a one-day showcase featuring five teams from the tournament’s 16-team main draw with five more Florida programs in a one-day event on Saturday, Dec. 15 at Lehigh Senior High School.

Single-day preferred, reserved and general admission tickets are now on sale. Six-day preferred and reserved packages are also available, and so is a VIP parking pass. For prices and seating information, visit cityofpalmsclassic.com, call 1-800-440-7469 or visit the Suncoast Credit Union Arena box office at 13351 FSW Parkway or the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall box office at 13350 FSW Parkway, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The tournament offers discounted group rates. Call John Naylor at 239-489-1085 for more information.

Founded in 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded its scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and during the past 23 years, it has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared. Classic Basketball Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing the Culligan City of Palms Classic. For more information and to sign up for the eNewsletter, visit cityofpalmsclassic.com.

Josh Milton, Vice President of Media Relations
CONRIC PR & Marketing
6216 Whiskey Creek Drive, Suite B
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-690-9840
Josh@ConricPR.com | ConricPR.com

This release was published on openPR.