The nation’s top high school basketball tournament brings teams from across the country and Canada
The wait is almost over for basketball fans watching the 43rd Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic’s online countdown, but the time is now to get tickets for the preeminent high school tournament, to be held at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers Friday through Wednesday, December 18-23.
As the top high school basketball tournament in the U.S., the Culligan City of Palms Classic brings teams from as far away as Oregon (West Linn HS), Missouri (Chamindae College Prep and Father Tolton Catholic), Ohio (Westerville South HS) and Ontario (Athlete Institute). These outstanding athletes will take to the hardwood alongside teams from the Sunshine State: Montverde Academy, Bartow HS, and Southwest Florida’s own Lehigh Senior HS and Charlotte HS.
The crowd will be treated to the on-court prowess of players such as Class of 2016 Hoop Scoop #1 player Thon Maker (The Athlete Institute, Ontario); Class of 2016 ESPN #2 player Jayson Tatum (Chaminade, St. Louis, Mo.); Class of 2016 ESPN #6 player Edryce “Bam” Adebayo (High Point Christian, High Point, N.C.); Class of 2016 ESPN #11 player Lonzo Ball (Chino Hills, Chino Hills, Calif.); Class of 2016 Hoop Scoop #10 player UdokaAzubuike (Potter’s House Christian, Jacksonville, Fla.); and Class of 2017 ESPN #3 player Michael Porter (Father Tolton, Columbia, Mo.).
For more information, including a complete lineup of the teams scheduled to play in this year’s tournament, and to purchase tickets go to: www.cityofpalmsclassic.com.
Culligan returns for its third year as Title Sponsor, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Presenting Sponsor for the second year.
No fees are collected from players and teams, and Classic Basketball Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that acts as a foundation for the tournament, covers all expenses for the players. For many of the players, the tournament represents their first opportunity to travel outside their own city.
More than 530 Culligan City of Palms players have advanced to NCAA Division I competition, with more than 60 advancing to play professionally in the NBA. Hundreds of coaches and scouts at every level use this venue for recruiting.
About the Culligan City of Palms Classic
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 over the past 22 years, 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.