High school basketball: Montverde Academy, Link Academy, Columbus, Paul VI headline loaded field for 50th annual City of Palms Classic

Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, Derik Queen, Darius Acuff Jr., Cayden Boozer and Caleb Holt headline individual talent.

Cooper Flagg Peach Jam highlights 15,001 views 1:34

Annually the premier high school basketball tournament in the nation, the City of Palms Classic announced its 2023 field on Wednesday. The 50th annual event will take place Dec. 18-23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla.

Since 1994, over 100 former participants have gone on to become first round picks in the NBA Draft, including Bam Adebayo, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Jayson Tatum and John Wall.

Here is a look at the participants in the 16-team tournament field, Small-Town Signature Series and Sunshine Series.

16-team tournament field: Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.), Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), Cannon (Concord, N.C.), Columbus (Miami, Fla.), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), Mariner (Cape Coral, Fla.), McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.), Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), Richmond Heights (Richmond Heights, Ohio), Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Small-Town Signature Series: Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.), Charlotte (Punta Gorda, Fla.), Lexington (S.C.), Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.)

Sunshine Series: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.), Victory Christian Academy (Lakeland, Fla.), Windermere Prep (Windermere, Fla.)

The City of Palms Classic will have a major impact on the national rankings as the winner is likely to assume the No. 1 spot in the nation and will be looked at as the team to beat in high school basketball next season.

The 16-team tournament field features a surplus of talent from across the country, including 11 teams that project to begin the season in the national rankings and eighteen top 20 prospects in their respective classes. Check out the top players to watch listed below.

Top-ranked Class of 2024 prospect Cooper Flagg is among the players to watch at the 2023 City of Palms Classic. (Photo: Catalina Fragoso)

Prospects to watch

Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (No. 1 prospect in Class of 2024)

Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (No. 2 in Class of 2024)

Ace Bailey, McEachern (No. 3 in Class of 2024)

Tre Johnson, Link Academy (No. 4 in Class of 2024)

Derik Queen, Montverde Academy (No. 7 in Class of 2024)

Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy (No. 9 in Class of 2024)

Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (No. 11 in Class of 2024)

Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (No. 15 in Class of 2024)

Asa Newell, Montverde Academy (No. 18 in Class of 2024)

Cameron Boozer, Columbus (No. 1 in Class of 2025)

Darius Acuff Jr., IMG Academy (No. 9 in Class of 2025)

Cayden Boozer, Columbus (No. 11 in Class of 2025)

Jasper Johnson, Link Academy (No. 12 in Class of 2025)

Aaron Rowe, Link Academy (No. 19 in Class of 2025)

Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (Top 20 in Class of 2026)

Alex Constanza, Westminster Academy (Top 20 in Class of 2026)

Jordan Smith, Paul VI (Top 20 in Class of 2026)

T.J. Crumble, Richmond Heights (Top 20 in Class of 2026)