City of Palms players to watch in 46th annual high school basketball tournament

The Culligan City of Palms Classic has been a college basketball recruiter’s dream almost since it became a national event in 1988.

That’s why the likes of North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Kansas’ Bill Self, and famed broadcaster Dick Vitale among many other prominent college basketball figures make their way to Fort Myers regularly to watch the tournament.

The numbers also don’t lie.

There have been 155 McDonald’s All-Americans and 141 on playing NCAA power-seven conference teams this season.

The talent has been so great it’s bubbled to the top as 141 City of Palms alums have been selected in the NBA Draft with 72 in the league this season. Of those players, 87 were picked in the first round, including nine in the 2018 draft led by No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton by the Phoenix Suns who played twice in the City of Palms (2014 Balboa City, 2016 Hillcrest).

With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top players to watch over the next six days based on the latest USA Today Network’s Chosen 25 basketball recruit rankings. Paul VI’s Jeremy Roach, who was ranked the No. 11 junior, is not on the list since he’s out for the season with a knee injury and will not be playing.

More:City of Palms Classic: Meet the teams in the 46th annual high school basketball tournament

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SENIORS

Cole Anthony

Point guard / 6-3 / 175

School: Oak Hill

College: Undecided

Highlights: Ranked No. 1 of the Chosen 25. Anthony is, arguably, the most feared backcourt player in the country, combining shifty moves off the dribble with marksman-like accuracy from the perimeter and elite athleticism. Anthony also plays with the chip of an unranked, unknown player trying to make a name.

Vernon Carey Jr.

Forward / 6-10 / 260

School: University School

College: Duke

Highlights: Ranked No. 3 of the Chosen 25. Carey is a big, strong forward who can drain perimeter jump shots, take the ball coast-to-coast and punish the opposition in the post.

Josh Green

Guard / 6-6 / 210

School: IMG Academy

College: Arizona

Highlights: Ranked No. 8 of the Chosen 25. Green is a dynamic scorer who can fill it up from anywhere on the floor and competes on the defensive end. His athleticism allows him to finish with authority in the lane.

Armando Bacot

Forward/ 6-9 / 200

School: IMG Academy

College: North Carolina

Highlights: Ranked No. 12 of the Chosen 25. Bacot is a true post player with great hands and exceptional footwork, which allows him to get great position and finish plays.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Forward / 6-9 / 230

College: Villanova

Highlights: No. 18 in the Chosen 25. Robinson-Earl is a long and versatile forward who gets great position in the paint and finishes plays efficiently. He’s also a stellar rebounder and shot blocker.

Trendon Watford

Forward / 6-9 /215

College: Undecided

Highlights: No. 22 in the Chosen 25. He became the third junior to win Alabama’s “Mr. Basketball” award and was named Birmingham Male. Watford is a big and strong forward who can knock down shots, bring the ball up the floor and overpower the opposition in the paint.

DJ Jeffries

Forward / 6-7 / 210

School: Olive Branch

College: Memphis

Highlights: Knocking on the door of joining the Chosen 25. He’s Ranked No. 22 and a 5-star recruit by ESPN and is considered a 4-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports. The versatile wing is a skilled player around the basket, and will likely be used at multiple positions in college.

JUNIORS

Sharife Cooper

Point Guard / 6-0 / 155

School: McEachern

College: Undecided

Highlights: No. 4 in the Chosen 25. Cooper is nearly impossible to guard and has an innate feel for all aspects of the game. He’s an elite scorer and playmaker who makes everyone on the court better and dominates every defender he faces.

Scottie Barnes

Forward / 6-7 / 180

School: University School

College: Undecided

Highlights: No. 5 in the Chosen 25. Barnes can run the point, dominate post players or thread-the-needle with crisp passes, all while guarding all five positions.

Jaden Springer

Shooting Guard / 6-4 / 170

School: IMG Academy

College: Undecided

Highlights: No. 13 in the Chosen 25. Springer is a shifty guard who maneuvers his way into the lane at-will, can knock down the perimeter jump shot efficiently and is an elite finisher.

Cameron Thomas

Shooting Guard / 6-3/ 180

School: Oak Hill Academy

College: Undecided

Highlights: No. 25 in the Chosen 25. Thomas is a super athlete who can fill it up from all different areas on the court, get into the lane and finish efficiently and lock up defensively.

 What: Culligan City of Palms Classic

Where: Florida SouthWestern State College

When: Monday-Saturday

Tickets: cityofpalmsclassic.com/tickets or call the box office at 239-481-4849 or 1-800-440-7469 or visit the Arena Box Office or Barbara B Mann Box Office. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Note: Monday’s opener between Canterbury and Fort Myers is free

Tournament Schedule

Monday 

12:30 p.m. (CITY OF PALMS TIP-OFF): Fort Myers Canterbury vs. Fort Myers 

3:30 p.m. (Game 1): Washington Woodrow Wilson (D.C.) vs. Olive Branch (Miss.)

5:15 p.m. (Game 2-SUNSHINE SERIES): Lehigh Acres Lehigh (Fla.) vs. The Villages (Fla.) 

7 p.m. (Game 3): Charlotte vs. Mountain Brook (Ala.) 

8:45 p.m. (Game 4): Mouth of Wilson Oak Hill Academy (Va.) vs. Sarasota Riverview

Tuesday

11 a.m. (Game 5): Consolation: Gm 4 loser (Oak Hill-Riverview) vs. Gm 1 loser (Wilson-Olive Branch)

12:45 p.m. (Game 6): West Columbia Gray Collegiate (S.C.) vs. IMG Academy 

2:30 p.m. (Game 7): Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (Pa.) vs. Osceola

4:15 p.m. (Game 8-SUNSHINE SERIES): Sarasota Booker vs. Orlando West Oaks 

6 p.m. (Game 9): St. Louis Vashon (Mo.) vs. University School

7:45 p.m. (Game 10): Powder Springs McEachern (Ga.) vs. Miami Christian 

9:30 p.m. (Game 11): Montclair Immaculate Conception (N.J.) vs. Fairfax Paul VI (Va.)

Wednesday 

2:30 p.m. (Game 12): Consolation: Gm 3 loser (Charlotte-Mountain Brook) vs. Gm 11 loser (ImmConceptn-Paul VI)

4:15 p.m. (Game 13): Quarterfinal: Gm 4 winner (Oak Hill-Riverview) vs. Gm 3 winner (Charlotte-Mountain Brook)

6 p.m. (Game 14): Quarterfinal: Gm 11 winner (ImmConceptn-Paul VI) vs. Gm 10 winner (McEachern-Miami Chr)

7:25 p.m.: Bahama Breeze 45-second Challenge 7:30 p.m.: Joe North THREE-POINT SHOOTOUT

8:15 p.m.: Edison National Bank SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday

10:30 a.m. (Game 15): Consolation: Gm 7 loser (Imhotep-Osceola) vs. Gm 9 loser (Vashon-University)

12:15 p.m. (Game 16): Consolation: Gm 10 loser (McEachern-Miami Chr) vs. Gm 6 loser (Gray Collegiate-IMG)

2 p.m. (Game 17-SIGNATURE SERIES): La Crosse Central (Wis.) vs. Brunswick (Ga.)

3:45 p.m. (Game 18-SUNSHINE SERIES): Lakeland vs. Miami Palmetto 

5:30 p.m. (Game 19-SIGNATURE SERIES): Glens Falls (N.Y.) vs. Petal (Miss.)

7:15 p.m. (Game 20): Quarterfinal: Gm 7 winner (Imhotep-Osceola) vs. Gm 9 winner (Vashon-University)

9 p.m. (Game 21): Quarterfinal: Gm 6 winner (Gray Collegiate-IMG) vs. Gm 11 winner (Wilson-Olive Branch)

Friday

9 a.m. (Game 22): Challenge-round game: 0-2 teams to be determined

10:40 a.m. (Game 23): Consolation semifinal: Gm 16 winner vs. Gm 12 winner

12:20 p.m. (Game 24): Consolation semifinal: Gm 5 winner vs. Gm 15 winner

2 p.m. (Game 25): Fifth-place semifinal: Gm 13 loser vs. Gm 14 loser

3:45 p.m. (Game 26): Fifth-place semifinal: Gm 21 loser vs. Gm 20 loser

5:30 p.m. (Game 27): Challenge-round game: 0-2 teams to be determined

7:15 p.m. (Game 28): Semifinal: Gm 13 winner vs. Gm 20 winner

9 p.m. (Game 29): Semifinal: Gm 14 winner vs. Gm 21 winner

Saturday

11 a.m. (Game 30-SIGNATURE SERIES THIRD-PLACE): Gm 17 loser vs. Gm 19 loser

12:40 p.m. (Game 31): Consolation championship: Gm 24 winner vs. Gm 23 winner

2:20 p.m. (Game 32): Fifth-place championship: Gm 25 winner vs. Gm 26 winner

4:00 p.m. (Game 33): SIGNATURE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP) Gm 17 winner vs. Gm 19 winner

5:45 p.m. (Game 34): THIRD-PLACE FINAL Gm 28 loser vs. Gm 29 loser

7:30 p.m. (Game 35): CITY OF PALMS CHAMPIONSHIP Gm 28 winner vs. Gm 29 winner