City Of Palms Classic Preview- Day 1

The 49th Annual City of Palms Classic, the nation’s most prestigious high school basketball tournament kicks off tomorrow and will continue through December 21. 37 total games will be on hand, including games featuring the nation’s top recruits. Prep Hoops Florida scouts Josh Cutler, Allen Pettigrew and Ross Van De Griek will be on the ground at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. Check out the Day 1 preview below:

Game 1: Vashon (Missouri) vs Archbishop Stepinac (New York)- Friday at 2:30pm: The Vashon Wolverines are led by 14th year head coach Tony Irons and come into the tournament ranked 15th in the state. Keep an eye on 6-6 senior wing Kennard Davis Jr. and 6-5 senior guard Jayden Nicholson. Another name to keep an eye on will be 6-6 senior forward Cameron Stovall, as well as 6-8 senior forward Jordan Logan. On the other side, the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders are led by 8th year head coach Patrick Massaroni and come into the tournament with a 3-1 record on the young season. A name to keep an eye on will be 6-3 junior combo guard Boogie Fland who holds over 20 D-1 offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, UConn and several others. Also keep an eye on 6-0 sophomore point guard Danny Carbuccia who is averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game through four games this season.

Game 2: Lake Highlands (Texas) vs Newton (Georgia)- Friday at 4:15pm: The Lake Highlands Wildcats are led by 7th year head coach Joe Duffield and have began the season with a 9-1 record. A name to watch for Lake Highlands will be 6-6 junior guard Tre Johnson Tre Johnson 6'5" | SG Link Academy | 2024 #1 Nation MO who is arguably the top ranked prospect in the nation for the junior class. On the other side for the Newton Rams, they are led by 4th year head coach Charlemagne Gibbons and have began the young season with a 3-3 record. Players to watch in this one will be 6-3 junior guard Jakai Newton Jakai Newton 6'4" | PG Newton | 2023 State #88 Nation GA who has signed with Indiana University and 6-7 senior Stephon Castle Stephon Castle 6'6" | CG Newton | 2023 State #29 Nation GA who is signed to play at the University of Connecticut next season.

Game 3: Gateway (Fort Myers) vs First Baptist Academy (Naples)- Friday at 6:00pm: The Hugh Thimlar Tribute game will feature two schools separated by 30 miles as the Gateway Eagles who are led by 2nd year head coach Quran Pettyjohn and are off to a 4-2 start to the young season. Players to keep an eye on in this one will be 6-7 senior forward Eugene Alvin and 6-2 junior point guard Tavian Cook. On the other side, the First Baptist Academy Lions are led by 15th year head coach Scott Stewart and have began the season with a 6-1 record. Keep an eye on 6-4 senior guard Olsen Henry (Clemson football commit) and 6-2 senior guard Latrell Davis in this one. Another name to keep an eye on will be 6-4 senior wing Yohandry Ortiz.

Game 4: North Laurel (Kentucky) vs Charlotte (Punta Gorda)- Friday at 7:45pm: The North Laurel Jaguars are making their first City of Palms Classic appearance and are led by 4th year head coach Nate Valentine and has won 20 or more games in each of his first three seasons. The Jaguars are also led by 6’2 senior guard Reed Sheppard (Kentucky commit) and 6’5 senior wing Ryan Davidson. On the other side, the Charlotte Tarpons are 1st year head coach Mike Williams Mike Williams 6'0" | CG Dallas Hillcrest | 2025 TX who took over for Tom Massolio after 25 years and recording over 500 wins for the Tarpons. Keep an eye on 6’6 senior forward John Gamble who has recorded a double-double in two of the team’s eight games so far. Other names to keep an eye on will be 6’4 junior forward Chris Cornish and 6’4 junior guard Blake Maddox who came over from South Fort Myers during the offseason.

Game 5: Wheeler (Georgia) vs Tampa Catholic- Friday at 9:30pm: In the final game of the opening day, features one of the best duos in the tournament featuring future USC Trojans in 6-2 senior point guard Isaiah Collier Isaiah Collier 6'4" | PG Wheeler | 2023 State #8 Nation GA and 6-9 senior center Arrinten Page Arrinten Page 6'9" | C Wheeler | 2023 State #191 Nation GA . The Wildcats are led by 6th year head coach Larry Thompson and has reached at least the “Sweet 16” in each of his first five seasons at the helm. On the other side, the Tampa Catholic Crusaders are led by 32nd year head coach Don Dziagwa and have reached the “Final Four” in six of the last seven years. This season, Tampa Catholic has started the season with a 3-3 record while playing three programs that reached the state semifinals last season (2A North Florida Educational Institute, 4A Andrew Jackson and 6A Ponte Vedra) as well as playing IMG Academy earlier this week. Keep an eye on 6’6 junior guard Karter Knox, who is the top ranked prospect in the state of Florida. Other names to watch will be 6’3 senior guard Eddrin Bronson (Furman University commit) and 6’0 sophomore guard Isaiah Campbell Isaiah Campbell 6'0" | PG South Effingham | 2023 GA -Finch.