Here are some of the top moments from the 2023 City of Palms Classic and a look at 2024
With an unprecedented field featuring the nation’s Top 5 ranked high school basketball teams all competing in the main bracket, the City of Palms Classic delivered on its aim to make the tournament’s 50th anniversary something to celebrate.
Now the question becomes what to do for an encore.
“I’m old enough that I remember the Bicentennial in 1976 and what a really big deal that was,” said Donnie Wilkie, the Classic’s vice president and tournament director. “It was so momentous and patriotic and spectacular and that’s what I think this year’s City of Palms has been.
City of Palms at 50: Our picks for best players, best title games, best fields, and more
“My problem is I don’t remember a thing about July 4, 1977. That’s going to be the challenge for next year’s tournament.”
Wilkie, who selects all of the teams for the Classic, said he has one commitment for next year’s tournament: Orlando Oak Ridge, a Class 7A state semifinalist last season that features a pair of four-star recruits in 6-foot-6 forward Jamier Jones and 5-foot-10 point guard Jalen Reece.
Other than Oakridge the field remains largely wide open so far, save for a few unnamed teams that Wilkie said he is planning to invite.
“You can do yourself more harm by picking the wrong team than by not picking anybody,” he said. "It’s going to be important that next year’s field gets built very deliberately and one piece at a time.”
City of Palms 2023: Paul VI wins third place, Don Bosco fifth, McEachern the consolation champ
While there aren’t any major changes planned for next year’s Classic, a couple of small tweaks here and there could be made.
“I’m not worried too much about being the best tournament in the country because that will happen organically,” Wilkie said. “I am worried about being the most interesting tournament.”
This year’s City of Palms Classic certainly proved to be both. Here are some of the highlights from the event.
Montverde (who else?) does it again
The Classic may continue to evolve and improve but one thing that’s been a constant is the dominance of the Eagles. Montverde (14-0), the nation's No. 1 ranked team, captured its sixth City of Palms championship with a wire-to-wire 73-59 victory over No. 2 ranked Long Island Lutheran Saturday.
The Eagles, who are 36-5 all-time in the City of Palms and 15-0 in their last four appearances, got a bit of a scare from Paul VI in Friday's semifinal, trailing 49-48 with just under seven minutes remaining before rallying for a 69-62 win.
Duke commit Cooper Flagg, the nation's No. 1 ranked senior, had 21 points, 14 rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists in the championship game. He was named the Classic's MVP after averaging 18.3 points, eight rebounds, four assists and 2.5 blocked shots.
Two familiar names claim Slam Dunk and 3-point championships
Jaxon Richardson was born to win the City of Palms Slam Dunk contest. The Miami Columbus sophomore is the son of ex-NBA standout Jason Richardson, a two-time winner of the league’s Slam Dunk contest.
The 6-foot-6 Richardson outdueled Paul VI senior Isaiah Abraham with the clinching dunk coming on a 360-degree reverse which saw him leap over 6-foot-7 teammate Malik Abdullahi.
The 3-point contest saw Paul VI’s Darren Harris become the first player in the 31-year history of the event to repeat as the long-distance champion. Harris, who is headed to Duke, cooly sank the money ball on his final rack in the decisive round to take the title by a single point.
Fort Myers-Bishop Verot rivalry returns to the court
In honor of the first game in the history of the City of Palms Classic in 1973, Fort Myers and Bishop Verot renewed their basketball rivalry last Wednesday after a five-year hiatus.
Powered by senior Leroy Rokers’ game-high 22 points, the Vikings topped the Green Wave 58-39 in the Hugh Thimlar Tribute game, ending a five-game losing streak to Fort Myers.
It’s unclear when these teams will next face one another, though there’s the possibility this matchup could make a return appearance in the Classic.
“My preference is that if they want to play each other, they do it in their gyms and make their money on their own,” Wilkie said. “If they want to play each other again (here) that possibility exists again next year. Beyond that, you’d have to go year-by-year. But again, I’d prefer they do that game on their own.”
First City of Palms Classic Hall of Fame class honored
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Classic inducted five tournament luminaries into its Hall of Fame: Montverde coach Kevin Boyle, Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight, former Mariner High and University of Florida star Teddy Dupay, former Classic president Bill Pollock, and tournament founder Hugh Thimlar were inducted into the City of Palms Classic’s Hall of Fame as its inaugural members.
Photos: City of Palms Classic inducts 5 basketball stalwarts as first Hall of Fame class
"I've been lobbying for this for a while but it just felt like the 50th anniversary was the appropriate year to unveil it," Wilkie said. "You can't write the history of this tournament without names like Kevin Boyle, Gary McKnight, Teddy Dupay, Hugh Thimlar, and Bill Pollock. What a perfect five."
City of Palms All-Tournament team
Darius Acuff, Jr., IMG Academy
Ace Bailey, McEachern (Ga.)
Cameron Boozer, Miami Columbus
Cayden Boozer, Miami Columbus
V.J. Edgecombe, Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.)
Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (N.C.)
Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (MVP)
Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.)
Ben Hammond, Paul VI (Va.)
Dylan Harper, Don Bosco (N.J.)
Tre Johnson, Link Academy (Mo.)
Alex Lloyd, Westminster Academy
Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy
Asa Newell, Montverde Academy
Travis Perry, Lyon County (Ky.)
Owen Verna, Mater Dei (Calif.)
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2023 City of Palms Classic cements status as top high school basketball tournament
