City of Palms Classic: Meet the teams playing in the 49th annual basketball tournament

Here are the 26 teams that makeup 2022's City Of Palms Classic, the area's marquee high school boys basketball tournament, being held at Suncoast Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College Friday through Wednesday.

Traditional Bracket

Archbishop Stepinac (New York)

Nickname: Crusaders

Last Season: 26-4, CHSAA City Runner-ups

Top players: 6-foot-2 Johnuel “Boogie” Fland (Jr.), 5-foot-11 Danny Carbuccia (So.)

Outlook: The Crusaders’ guard tandem of Boogie Fland and Johnuel Carbuccia is poised to lead their squad through a deep tournament run. Fland, averaging 24 points per game this year, is a dynamic scoring threat that can cause matchup issues for plenty of teams.

Canterbury

Nickname: Cougars

Last Season: 18-9, 3A-8 Runner-Ups

Top players: 6-foot-8 Jerry Ashley (So.), 6-foot-1 Leroy Roker (Jr.)

Outlook: Canterbury makes its fifth City of Palms appearance (and second in six years), powered by a young nucleus that includes Ashley and Roker. This year, the duo is combining for 29 points and 14 rebounds per game.

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Centennial (Calif.)

Nickname: Huskies

Last Season: 33-1, Open Division State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-2 Jared McClain (Sr.), 6-foot-8 Devin Williams, 6-foot3 Mike Price (Sr.)

Outlook: Josh Giles’ rapidly-ascending national powerhouse becomes the first California team to play in a City of Palms since 2017, and has a legitimate chance to win it all. Most of the starting lineup returns from last year’s state-title run, including McClain, a highly-touted Duke commit.

Charlotte

Nickname: Fighting Tarpons

Last Season: 19-10, 5A-3 Semifinalists

Top players: 6-foot-6 John Gamble (Sr.), 6-foot-4 Chris Cornish (Jr.)

Outlook: A new era begins in Punta Gorda, where veteran coach Tom Massolio has called it quits to become the school’s new athletic director after posting 507 victories, 11 district championships, and only two losing seasons during a 25-year span. Stepping in is longtime JV coach Mike Williams, who inherits a strong program and a lot of pieces, led by Gamble and Cornish, who are combining for 43 points and 21 rebounds per game through their first four games.

Christopher Columbus

Nickname: Explorers

Last Season: 29-2, 7A State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-8 Cameron Boozer (So.), 6-foot-3 Cayden Boozer (So.)

Outlook: Columbus’ highly-touted Boozer twins were as good as advertised, leading Andrew Moran’s club to a state championship in their freshman seasons. Through the Explorers’ first four games this season, Cameron is averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block per game.

Imhotep Charter (Penn.)

Nickname: Panthers

Last Season: 29-4, 5A State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-7 Justin Edwards (Sr.), 6-foot-1 Ahmad Nowell (Jr.)

Outlook: Coach Andre Noble will try to improve upon Imhotep’s runner-up finish at the 2018 City of Palms, and has the roster to do it, with Edwards and Nowell leading the way.

Isidore Newman (La.)

Nickname: Greenies

Last Season: 28-5, Division 3 State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-4 Chris Lockett (Sr.)

Outlook: Newman is back for an encore after the ultra-young Greenies’ 2021 City of Palms experience paved the way for the school’s first state title under coach Randy Livington. Newman is off to a hot start to the 2022 season, going 7-0 while Lockett averages 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal per game.

Lake Highlands (Texas)

Nickname: Wildcats

Last Season: 32-5, 6A Fort Worth Region Semifinalists

Top players: 6-foot-4 Tre Johnson (Jr.)

Outlook: Coach Joe Duffield’s forces look to take the next step after winning 21 of 23 games down the stretch before a 66-62 playoff loss to Arlington Martin. Leading the way will be Johnson, who many suspect could be the No. 1 junior in the nation. Johnson has led the Wildcats to a 7-1 start to the 2022 season.

Myers Park (NC)

Nickname: Mustangs

Last Season: 17-9, 4A State Quarterfinalists

Top players: 6-foot-6 Sir Mohammed (Jr.), 6-foot-4 Bishop Boswell (Jr.), 6-foot-7 Elijah Strong (Sr.), 6-foot-7 Sadiq White (So.)

Outlook: The first North Carolina public school to play in a City of Palms since 2007, the Mustangs were the summer’s most pleasant surprise, going undefeated during a pair of prominent NCAA Live Period events in North Carolina and Georgia. Coach Scott Taylor’s lineup boasts four Division 1 recruits, led by Mohammed, son of former Kentucky star Nazr Mohammed.

Newton (Ga.)

Nickname: Rams

Last Season: 24-6, 7A State Semifinalists

Top players: 6-foot-6 Stephon Castle (Sr.), 6-foot-3 Jakai Newton (Sr.)

Outlook: Just as he did in 10 seasons at Morgan County, coach Charlemagne Gibbons has Newton knocking on the doorstep of a state championship in one of the nation’s toughest brackets – Georgia’s Class 7A. The talented duo of UConn commit Castle and Indiana-bound Newton led the Rams to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic title last January.

North Laurel (Ky.)

Nickname: Jaguars

Last Season: 28-6, State Sweet Sixteen

Top players: 6-foot-2 Reed Sheppard (Sr.)

Outlook: One of The Bluegrass State’s highest rated recruits in years, Kentucky commit Reed Sheppard is looking to make one last run at a Sweet Sixteen state title. The Jaguars are off to a 4-0 start to the 2022 season.

Paul VI (Va.)

Nickname: Panthers

Last Season: 31-5, WCAC & VISAA State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-5 DeShawn Harris-Smith (Sr.), 6-foot-4 Darren Harris (Jr.)

Outlook: Coach Glenn Farello is hoping his team’s fifth trip to Fort Myers (including a runner-up finish in 2013) will bring a championship to one of America’s proudest programs over the past decade. The top-seeded Panthers, powered by Harris-Smith and Harris, came within one game of a nearly impossible sweep of WCAC, Virginia VISAA and Alhambra Classic titles.

Tampa Catholic

Nickname: Crusaders

Last Season: 22-8, 3A State Semifinalists

Top players: 6-foot-4 Karter Knox (Jr.)

Outlook: Coach Don Dziagwa has accumulated 636 wins at Tampa Catholic, and the talented Crusaders are hoping to win their first state title in 28 years behind Knox, the younger brother of NBA star Kevin Knox, who is averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds per game through the Crusaders' first four games.

Vashon (Mo.)

Nickname: Wolverines

Last Season: 27-4, 4 State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-6 Kennard Davis Jr. (Sr.), 6-foot-4 Jayden Nicholson (Sr.)

Outlook: With five state championships since taking over in 2016, coach Tony Irons has more than followed in the footsteps of his father, legendary Vashon coach Floyd Irons, who won ten. The Wolverines return basically their entire roster, including Davis, Jr. and Nicholson.

Wheeler (Ga.)

Nickname: Wildcats

Last Season: 28-5, Division III State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-2 Isaiah Collier (Sr.), 6-foot-9 Arrinten Page (Sr.)

Outlook: There might not be a duo in the City of Palms better than the Wildcats’ Collier and Page, who have led their squad to a 4-0 start. Coach Larry Thompson’s team looks to rebound after an overtime loss at eventual Class 6A state champion Grovetown in last season’s quarterfinals.

Winter Haven

Nickname: Blue Devils

Last Season: 23-8, 6A State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-8 Dylan James (Sr.), 6-foot-6 Isaac Celiscar (Jr.), 6-foot-6 Jamie Phillips Jr. (Jr.), 6-foot-1 Kjei Parker (Sr.)

Outlook: This Blue Devil squad is loaded with talent and makes the trip south after winning the 6A state title. Coach Tyron Woodside’s squad is off to a 5-0 start, led by Kjei Parker who is averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Winter Haven’s highest-rated recruit is Georgia commit Dylan James, who ranks 4th in scoring on this year’s stacked Blue Devil Squad.

Signature Series

Link Academy (Mo.)

Nickname: Lions

Last Season: 34-2, GEICO Nationals Runners-Up

Top players: 6-foot-5 Ja’Kobe Walter (Sr.), 6-foot-8 Jacolb Cole (Sr.), 6-foot-8 Corey Chest, Jr. (Sr.), 6-foot-9 Cade Phillips (Sr.), 6-foot-5 Cameron Carr (Sr.), 6-foot-3 Ryan Forrest (Sr.), 6-foot Elliot Cadeu, 6-foot-8 Tyler MicKinney (Jr.), 6-foot-6 BJ Davis (So.), 6-foot-2 Aaron Rowe (So.)

Outlook: New head coach Bill Armstrong is only part of the reload that Link faced after its senior-laden team’s run to the GEICO Nationals championship game in April. The new group might be just as talented, led by incoming transfers Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor) Cade Phillips (Tennessee), two of a staggering six high-major signees in the team’s senior class. Jacolb Cole (Oklahoma), Corey Chest, Jr. (LSU), Cameron Carr (Tennessee), and Ryan Forrest (Memphis) round out the seniors signed to the next level. The Lions are off to a 7-0 start under their new leadership.

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Patrick School (NJ)

Nickname: Celtics

Last Season: 23-7

Top players: 6-foot-10 Ifaola Fawaz (So.), 6-foot-6 Anthony Gilkes (Jr.), 6-foot-7 Seck Zongo (Sr.), 6-foot-5 Jaiden Glover (Jr.)

Outlook: The Celtics, making their 13th appearance at a City of Palms Classic since 1992, return for the first time since 2016 and will try their hand at the Signature Series, now that they are an independent. They are led by one of the top-rated underclassmen in the country in Fawaz, who is ranked 36th on Rivals.

Saint Frances (Md.)

Nickname: Panthers

Last Season: 35-8, Baltimore City League Runners-Up

Top players: 6-foot-6 Carlton Carrington (Sr.), 6-foot-4 Johnathan Lamothe (Sr.), 6-foot-2 Tyler Jackson (So.)

Outlook: Coach Nick Myles’ team is a perennial power in Baltimore’s Catholic League, and returns a big-time guard in Maryland signee Johnathan Lamothe from last year’s BCL runners-up. Pitt Signee Carlton Carrington will also prove helpful in the Signature Series, as will top-ranked underclassmen Tyler Jackson (37th on Rivals, 44th on On3).

The Rock School

Nickname: Lions

Last Season: 25-8, SIAA State Champions

Top players: 6-foot-9 Ryan Jones (Jr.), 6-foot-8 Sammy Yeanay (Jr.), 6-foot-6 Kameren Wright (Jr.), 6-foot-2 Evan Streck (So.)

Outlook: The midseason arrival of Sammy Yeanay from North Marion helped coach Justin Harden’s group overcome the season-ending injury to Ryan Jones and win its fourth SIAA state championship.

Sunshine Series

IMG Academy Blue

Nickname: Ascenders

Last Season: 25-4, Kingdom of the Sun Runner-Up

Top players: 7-foot-6 Oliver Rioux (Jr.), 6-foot-3 Gerard O’Keefe (Sr.), 6-foot-5 Max Sims (Sr.), 6-foot-6 Jacob Hammond (Jr.)

Outlook: IMG’s “second team” is better than most schools’ first, and gets some big-time exposure with its first trip to the City of Palms Classic. Much of the attention will be focused on vastly improved 7-foot-6 Olivier Rioux, billed as the “World’s Tallest Teenager,” but coach Jeremy Schiller will have a deep and talented roster as usual.

Providence School

Nickname: Stallions

Last Season: 25-5, 3A-1 Runners-Up

Top players: 6-foot-6 Mason Lee (Sr.), 6-foot-6 Chris Arias (Jr.), 6-foot-6 Jaylen Robinson (Jr.)

Outlook: Coach Jim Martin’s roster is primed for a spectacular two-year opportunity, coming off an Elite Eight run with Jaylen Robinson and Mason Lee leading the way to a 5-0 start.

The Villages High School

Nickname: Buffaloes

Last Season: 21-8, 4A-2 Semifinalists

Top players: 6-foot-8 Sam Walters (Sr.), 6-foot-7 Chris Washington, Jr. (Fr.)

Outlook: Smooth lefty and Alabama signee Sam Walters, a productive scorer both in and out of the paint, will be the focal point of coach Colt McDowell’s roster which also features a trio of highly touted freshmen, led by Chris Washington, Jr.

Westminster Academy

Nickname: Lions

Last Season: 22-7, 3A-4 Runners-Up

Top players: 6-foot-3 Alex Lloyd (So.), 6-foot-8 Jaylen Carey (Sr.), 6-foot-8 Alex Constanza (Fr.)

Outlook: Coach Ehren Wallhoff brings his perennial state-title contender to its first City of Palms, led by James Madison signee Jaylen Carey, the younger brother of NBA player and former City of Palms champion Vernon Carey, Jr. Leading the Lions to a 2-1 start is Alex Lloyd (21st on ESPN), averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals a game.

Hugh Thimlar Tribute

First Baptist

Nickname: Lions

Last Season: 26-3, 2A Final Four

Top players: 6-foot-2 Latrell Davis (Sr.), 6-foot-4 Olsen Patt-Henry (Sr.)

Outlook: Already one of the area’s most successful programs, FBA has stepped it up with two Final Four appearances in the past four seasons, and now hopes British 18U star 6-2 SR Latrell Davis can help his team win a state title.

Gateway

Nickname: Eagles

Last Season: 19-7, 3A-2 Quarterfinalists

Top players: 6-foot-7 Eugene Alvin (Sr.), 6-foot-2 Tavian Cook (Jr.)

Outlook: A young roster made a big splash out of the gate last season, upsetting Canterbury to win its first district title, and returns its entire nucleus.

Game-by-Game Schedule

FRIDAY

2:30 PM - Game 1: Vashon (Mo.) vs Archbishop Stepinac (NY)

4:15 PM - Game 2: Lake Highlands (Texas) vs Newton (Ga.)

6 PM - Game 3: HUGH THIMLAR TRIBUTE Gateway vs First Baptist

7:45 PM - Game 4: Charlotte vs North Laurel (Ky.)

Friday 9:30 PM - Game 5: Wheeler (Georgia) vs Tampa Catholic

SATURDAY

10:15 A.M. - Game 6: Consolation Game Gm 2 loser vs Gm 4 loser

Noon - Game 7: SUNSHINE SERIES Providence School vs The Villages

1:45 P.M. - Game 8: SUNSHINE SERIES IMG Academy Blue vs Westminster Academy

3:30 P.M. - Game 9: Imhotep Charter (Pennsylvania) vs Isidore Newman School (LA)

5:15 P.M. - Game 10: St. Paul VI HS (Va.) vs Canterbury School

7 P.M. - Game 11: Centennial (Calif.) vs Winter Haven

8:45 P.M. - Game 12: Gm 4 winner vs Myers Park (NC)

SUNDAY

Noon - Game 13: Consolation Game Gm 1 loser vs Gm 9 loser

1:45 PM - Game 14: SIGNATURE SERIES Link Academy (Mo.) vs Saint Francis Academy (Md.)

3:30 PM - Game 15: SIGNATURE SERIES Patrick School (N.J.) vs The Rock School

5:15 PM - Game 16: Quarterfinal Gm 1 winner vs Gm 9 winner

6:50 PM - Bahama Breeze 45-second Challenge

7 P.M - Joe North THREE-POINT SHOOTOUT

7:45 P.M. - Edison National Bank SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP

MONDAY

10:30 A.M. - Game 17: Consolation Game Gm 11 loser vs Gm 12 loser

12:10 P.M. - Game 18: SUNSHINE SERIES-THIRD PLACE Gm 7 loser vs Gm 8 loser

1:50 P.M. - Game 19: SUNSHINE SERIES-CHAMPIONSHIP Gm 8 winner vs Gm 7 winner

3:30 P.M. - Game 20: Consolation Gm 5 loser vs Gm 10 loser

5:15 P.M. - Game 21: Quarterfinal Gm 10 winner vs Gm 2 winner

7:45 P.M. - Game 22: Quarterfinal Christopher Columbus vs Gm 12 winner

8:45 P.M. - Game 23: Quarterfinal Gm 11 winner vs Gm 5 winner

TUESDAY

8 A.M. - Game 24: Consolation semifinal Gm 13 winner vs Gm 17 winner

9:40 A.M. - Game 25: Fifth-place semifinal Gm 22 loser vs Gm 16 loser

11:20 A.M.: SIGNATURE SERIES THIRD-PLACE Gm 15 loser vs Gm 14 loser

1 P.M.: SIGNATURE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP Gm 14 winner vs Gm 15 winner

2:40 P.M.: Consolation semifinal Gm 6 winner vs Gm 20 winner

5 P.M. - Game 29: Semifinal Gm 21 winner vs Gm 22 winner (ESPNU)

7 P.M. - Game 30: Semifinal Gm 16 winner vs Gm 23 winner (ESPNU)

8:45 P.M. - Game 31: Fifth-place semifinal Gm 22 loser vs Gm 23 loser

WEDNESDAY

9:30 A.M. - Game 32: Challenge-round game

11:10 A.M. - Game 33: Challenge-round game

12:50 P.M. - Game 34: Consolation Championship Gm 25 winner vs Gm 24 winner

2:30 P.M.: Fifth-place championship Gm 31 winner vs Gm 25 winner

5 P.M. - Game 36: Third Place Final Gm 29 loser vs Gm 30 loser (ESPNU)

7 P.M. - Game 37: Championship Gm 29 winner vs Gm 30 winner (ESPNU)

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Meet the teams playing in the 49th annual City of Palms Classic