Culligan City of Palms Classic (Boys)Dec 15, 2016 by Brett Regan
Epic City Of Palms Welcomes Heavy-Hitting Lineup
Epic City Of Palms Welcomes Heavy-Hitting Lineup
A full breakdown and preview of the best teams, players, and games at the 2016 Culligan City of Palms in Fort Meyers, Florida, on December 16-21.
Let's take a moment to imagine what the next six epic days in Fort Myers, Florida, will look like -- sunshine on the outside, a packed gym on the inside, and as much high school star power as any place in the country this season. That's what the Culligan City of Palms will be from Friday, Dec. 16, to Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College, and it has everything any hoops fan will need leading up to the holidays.
No. 4 - Montverde Academy (FL)
Coach: Kevin Boyle
Record: 8-0
Players To Watch: Rechon Black (2018, Flo40 No. 40), R.J. Barrett (2019)
One of the nation's most successful programs over the past five years has to be the early favorite to take home the hardware. Even with a reloaded roster, the Eagles have enjoyed a comfortable ride through the first part of the season and have a heavy crop of guards to cause matchup problems for any and all opponents.
No. 7 - Neumann-Goretti (PA)
Coach: Carl Arrigale
Record: 1-0
Players To Watch: Quade Green (2017, Flo40 No. 23), Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (2017)
Despite having just one game under its belt and another against a stellar Imhotep Charter squad prior to the event, Neumann-Goretti has plenty of firepower to make noise here. And if history is any indicator, it will happen. Quade Green, a tough-nosed floor general headed to Kentucky, will be looked upon to lead the state's most dominant school over the past decade.
No. 8 - IMG Academy (FL)
Coach: Vince Walden
Record: 10-0
Players To Watch: Trevon Duval (2017, Flo40 No. 5), Silvio De Sousa (2018, Flo40 No. 6)
Better not sleep on IMG Academy this year because this is such a stacked squad with playmakers. It's almost scary how many weapons the Ascenders boast, and with Trevon Duval running the show, it is bound to be constant excitement.
No. 10 - The Patrick School (NJ)
Coach: Mike Rice
Record: 0-0
Player To Watch: Nick Richards (2017, Flo40 No. 18)
No games so far? No problem. If there is ever a place to get the season started, it would be at City of Palms, where the Celtics had plenty of success a year ago. There is a wealth of talent on the roster from top to bottom, including a Division I-caliber backcourt and an elite center in Kentucky-bound Richards. The beginning of what should be an impressive run this season is now.
No. 11 - Norcross High School (GA)
Coach: Jesse McMillan
Record: 9-0
Players To Watch: Rayshaun Hammonds (2017), Lance Thomas (2017)
Don't look now but Norcross is one of the hottest teams in the country headed into this star-studded event. A sweep in the Holiday Hoopsgiving, including an 11-point victory over ranked Greenforest Christian, gave a small glimpse of what the Blue Devils are capable of this season. There's plenty to like about this team, and it all starts with the playmaking abilities of Hammonds.
No. 13 - Memphis East High School (TN)
Coach: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
Record: 5-1
Players To Watch: Alex Lomax (2018), Nikc Merriweather (2017), TJ Moss (2018)
Balanced. Deep. Athletic. That's the formula for the Mustangs, who boast a dynamic backcourt that's starting to reach its potential. Add in a former NBA star on the sidelines and this team is as tough as its national schedule.
No. 25 - Westtown School (PA)
Coach: Seth Berger
Record: 5-2
Players To Watch: Mohamed Bamba (2017, Flo40 No. 3), Cameron Reddish (2018, Flo40 No. 4), Brandon Randolph (2017)
A pair of losses at the National High School Hoops Festival is odd, but there is no need to hit the panic button just yet. Plus, those were without the 6-foot-11 Bamba. This is a chance to regain the spark that makes this team so dangerous and some momentum for the challenging road ahead.
2017
No. 2 Deandre Ayton (Hillcrest Prep, Arizona)
No. 3 Mohamed Bamba (Westtown School, uncommitted)
No. 4 Wendell Carter Jr. (Pace Academy, Duke)
No. 5 Trevon Duval (IMG Academy, uncommitted)
No. 6 Kevin Knox (Tampa Catholic, uncommitted)
No. 10 Hamidou Diallo (Putnam Science Academy, uncommitted)
No. 13 Collin Sexton (Pebblebrook High School, Alabama)
No. 18 Nick Richards (The Patrick School, Kentucky)
No. 22 MJ Walker (Jonesboro, uncommitted)
No. 23 Quade Green (Neumann-Goretti, Kentucky)
No. 27 Jeremiah Tillmon (East St. Louis, Illinois)
No. 29 John Petty Jr (Mae Jemison, Alabama)
2018
No. 4 Cameron Reddish (Westtown School)
No. 7 Silvio De Sousa (IMG Academy)
No. 11 Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy)
No. 36 Jahvon Quinerly (Hudson Catholic)
No. 40 Rechon Black (Montverde Academy)
While most anticipate certain matchups, there are some already set to be epic.
East St. Louis (IL) vs. Tampa Catholic (FL) -- Sunshine Series (Friday, 6 PM)
Of all of the ranked prospects playing in this event, perhaps no one is as intriguing as Tampa Catholic's Kevin Knox. He can pour it in from absolutely everywhere, and squaring off against East St. Louis center Jeremiah Tilmon makes it a must-watch showcase game.
No. 25 Westtown School (PA) vs. Hillcrest Prep (AZ) -- Signature Series (Sunday, 5:20 PM)
Labeling this as the best big man showdown of the year is an understatement. After all, it features the two best big men in the country -- Hillcrest Prep's DeAndre Ayton (No. 2) vs. Westtown's Mohamed Bamba (No. 3) -- primed to go at it. Missing this would be crazy.
No. 13 Memphis East (TN) vs. Pace Academy (GA) -- Traditional Bracket (Saturday, 9 PM)
Memphis East has a dynamic guards, while Pace has elite big man Wendell Carter (No. 4). It's quite the contrast for an opening-round game, and it's bound to bring some intensity.
Not only is this a legendary lineup of 28 teams and games, but it also has quite the act. Look no further than Sunday with the Bahama Breeze 45-Second Challenge, 3-Point Shootout, and Edison National Bank Slam Dunk Championship. What more could you ask for?
ON TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4Streaming: Available only on FloHoops - $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPro access is to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE.
THE BEST TEAMS:
No. 4 - Montverde Academy (FL)
Coach: Kevin Boyle
Record: 8-0
Players To Watch: Rechon Black (2018, Flo40 No. 40), R.J. Barrett (2019)
One of the nation's most successful programs over the past five years has to be the early favorite to take home the hardware. Even with a reloaded roster, the Eagles have enjoyed a comfortable ride through the first part of the season and have a heavy crop of guards to cause matchup problems for any and all opponents.
No. 7 - Neumann-Goretti (PA)
Coach: Carl Arrigale
Record: 1-0
Players To Watch: Quade Green (2017, Flo40 No. 23), Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (2017)
Despite having just one game under its belt and another against a stellar Imhotep Charter squad prior to the event, Neumann-Goretti has plenty of firepower to make noise here. And if history is any indicator, it will happen. Quade Green, a tough-nosed floor general headed to Kentucky, will be looked upon to lead the state's most dominant school over the past decade.
No. 8 - IMG Academy (FL)
Coach: Vince Walden
Record: 10-0
Players To Watch: Trevon Duval (2017, Flo40 No. 5), Silvio De Sousa (2018, Flo40 No. 6)
Better not sleep on IMG Academy this year because this is such a stacked squad with playmakers. It's almost scary how many weapons the Ascenders boast, and with Trevon Duval running the show, it is bound to be constant excitement.
No. 10 - The Patrick School (NJ)
Coach: Mike Rice
Record: 0-0
Player To Watch: Nick Richards (2017, Flo40 No. 18)
No games so far? No problem. If there is ever a place to get the season started, it would be at City of Palms, where the Celtics had plenty of success a year ago. There is a wealth of talent on the roster from top to bottom, including a Division I-caliber backcourt and an elite center in Kentucky-bound Richards. The beginning of what should be an impressive run this season is now.
No. 11 - Norcross High School (GA)
Coach: Jesse McMillan
Record: 9-0
Players To Watch: Rayshaun Hammonds (2017), Lance Thomas (2017)
Don't look now but Norcross is one of the hottest teams in the country headed into this star-studded event. A sweep in the Holiday Hoopsgiving, including an 11-point victory over ranked Greenforest Christian, gave a small glimpse of what the Blue Devils are capable of this season. There's plenty to like about this team, and it all starts with the playmaking abilities of Hammonds.
No. 13 - Memphis East High School (TN)
Coach: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
Record: 5-1
Players To Watch: Alex Lomax (2018), Nikc Merriweather (2017), TJ Moss (2018)
Balanced. Deep. Athletic. That's the formula for the Mustangs, who boast a dynamic backcourt that's starting to reach its potential. Add in a former NBA star on the sidelines and this team is as tough as its national schedule.
No. 25 - Westtown School (PA)
Coach: Seth Berger
Record: 5-2
Players To Watch: Mohamed Bamba (2017, Flo40 No. 3), Cameron Reddish (2018, Flo40 No. 4), Brandon Randolph (2017)
A pair of losses at the National High School Hoops Festival is odd, but there is no need to hit the panic button just yet. Plus, those were without the 6-foot-11 Bamba. This is a chance to regain the spark that makes this team so dangerous and some momentum for the challenging road ahead.
THE BEST PLAYERS:
2017
No. 2 Deandre Ayton (Hillcrest Prep, Arizona)
No. 3 Mohamed Bamba (Westtown School, uncommitted)
No. 4 Wendell Carter Jr. (Pace Academy, Duke)
No. 5 Trevon Duval (IMG Academy, uncommitted)
No. 6 Kevin Knox (Tampa Catholic, uncommitted)
No. 10 Hamidou Diallo (Putnam Science Academy, uncommitted)
No. 13 Collin Sexton (Pebblebrook High School, Alabama)
No. 18 Nick Richards (The Patrick School, Kentucky)
No. 22 MJ Walker (Jonesboro, uncommitted)
No. 23 Quade Green (Neumann-Goretti, Kentucky)
No. 27 Jeremiah Tillmon (East St. Louis, Illinois)
No. 29 John Petty Jr (Mae Jemison, Alabama)
2018
No. 4 Cameron Reddish (Westtown School)
No. 7 Silvio De Sousa (IMG Academy)
No. 11 Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy)
No. 36 Jahvon Quinerly (Hudson Catholic)
No. 40 Rechon Black (Montverde Academy)
THE BEST GAMES:
While most anticipate certain matchups, there are some already set to be epic.
East St. Louis (IL) vs. Tampa Catholic (FL) -- Sunshine Series (Friday, 6 PM)
Of all of the ranked prospects playing in this event, perhaps no one is as intriguing as Tampa Catholic's Kevin Knox. He can pour it in from absolutely everywhere, and squaring off against East St. Louis center Jeremiah Tilmon makes it a must-watch showcase game.
No. 25 Westtown School (PA) vs. Hillcrest Prep (AZ) -- Signature Series (Sunday, 5:20 PM)
Labeling this as the best big man showdown of the year is an understatement. After all, it features the two best big men in the country -- Hillcrest Prep's DeAndre Ayton (No. 2) vs. Westtown's Mohamed Bamba (No. 3) -- primed to go at it. Missing this would be crazy.
No. 13 Memphis East (TN) vs. Pace Academy (GA) -- Traditional Bracket (Saturday, 9 PM)
Memphis East has a dynamic guards, while Pace has elite big man Wendell Carter (No. 4). It's quite the contrast for an opening-round game, and it's bound to bring some intensity.
THE BEST SHOW:
Not only is this a legendary lineup of 28 teams and games, but it also has quite the act. Look no further than Sunday with the Bahama Breeze 45-Second Challenge, 3-Point Shootout, and Edison National Bank Slam Dunk Championship. What more could you ask for?
HOW TO WATCH:
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 16 - Wednesday, Dec. 21ON TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4Streaming: Available only on FloHoops - $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPro access is to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE.