Top Performers: City of Palms Classic (Day 5 – Part 2)
In this article:
Imhotep Charter, out of Philly, and McEachern, out of Georgia, advanced to the championship game of the 46th annual City of Palms Classic on Friday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. The championship game is Saturday night.
Friday’s final scores were:
Olive Branch (Ms.) 74, Paul VI (Va.) 72
IMG Academy 88, University School 51
Charlotte 71, Kissimmee Osceola 67
Imhotep Charter (Pa.) 70, Oak Hill Academy (Va.) 60
McEachern (Ga.) 50, Mountain Brook (Ala.) 29
Here is Part 2 of Friday’s top performers:
Sharife Cooper, Jarod Jones (McEachern)
The junior guard led the Indians into the City of Palms championship game with 15 points and 3 assists. Indians big man Jarod Jones had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Isaac Okoro added 12 points. The McEachern D held Trendon Watford to 4 points on on 1-of-7 shooting.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Josh Green (IMG Academy)
Villanova is getting a polished prospect in Robinson-Earl. The 6-10 forward has strong hands and excellent ball skills. He can take you outside and beat you with a 3 or drive and dunk on you. Robinson-Earl lit University School up for 26 points and 9 rebounds in 22 minutes Friday. He was 9 of 11 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Green — an Arizona signee — had 18 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes in the W. Green hit 6 of 9 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
Cole Anthony (Oak Hill Academy)
The unsigned 5-star did the majority of his damage at the free-throw line vs. Imhotep Charter, hitting 16 of 17 in the semifinal loss. Anthony finished with 33 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Oak Hill struggled from the floor as a team connecting on just 31 percent (16 of 52). 2020 Cam Thomas had 17 points.
Cameron Matthews, DJ Jeffries, C.J. Owens (Olive Branch)
Owens made two shots all game … they were both big. His final 3-pointer was the game-winner with 2.7 seconds remaining. “I knew I would knock it down,” Owens said. “I was to get to the corner and they’d kick it out to me.”
Jeffries (2019) has nice size, moves well and can shoot. He finished with 23 points and 8 rebounds. He is headed to Memphis.
The 6-7 Matthews (2020) connected on 9 of 13 from the field en route to 20 points and 5 boards. “I’m still growning,” Matthews said. “I think I’m hitting another growth spurt.” Matthews said he has offers from Ole Miss, Memphis, Florida and Oklahoma State.
Josiah Freeman, Trevor Keels, Dug McDaniel (Paul VI)
Freeman, a 6-4 junior, scored 22 points and the 6-4 Keels (2021) had 16 & 7 in the loss Friday. McDaniel, just a freshman, had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Wake Forest is in the mix here.
Vernon Carey Jr., Scottie Barnes (University School)
The 6-10 Carey finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds in a blowout loss to IMG. The Duke commit was 7 of 12 from the floor, hitting mostly jumpers vs. the Ascenders’ Armando Bacot and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. The 6-8 Barnes (2020) had 15 of his 17 in the second half. The defending 5A state champions seemed to still be feeling the effects of Thursday’s loss to Imhotep Charter.
Ahmad Johnson (Charlotte)
The 6-3 senior hit 10 of 17 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers, on the way to a 26-point, 9-rebound, 4-assist performance in a victory over Osceola. Tre Carroll (2021) added 16 points and Makai Reaves (2019) had 12.
If you have high school basketball news you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.