High school basketball: Arch Manning's Newman team joins 2021 City of Palms field along with Montverde Academy, IMG Academy

By Jordan Divens Jul 15, 2021, 12:45pm

Football prospect featured in Dec. 17-22 tournament along with two-time defending MaxPreps National Champions.

The City of Palms is back. After missing last year because of the pandemic, the premier holiday high school basketball tournament released its field Thursday that includes a star-studded 16-team main bracket as well as one of football's biggest names.

In addition to basketball heavyweights like two-time defending MaxPreps National Champion Montverde Academy and perennial powers IMG Academy and Oak Hill Academy, Newman is in the tournament's main bracket. The Greenies, who fell in the Louisiana Division III finals, feature Arch Manning, nephew of Payton and Eli Manning. If Newman is finished with football, Manning, the top-rated quarterback in the Class of 2023, could potentially join four-star point guard Chris Lockett on the hardwood.

The 48th annual event runs Dec. 17-22 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla.

This year's field appears to be stronger than ever, led by Kevin Boyle's National Champion Eagles. The Montverde roster is loaded with Top 100 prospects, including Omaha Biliew, Skyy Clark, Jalen Duren, Kwame Evans Jr., Jalen Hood-Schifino, Vincent Iwuchukwu, Dillon Mitchell, Malik Reneau, Sam Walters and Dariq Whitehead.

IMG Academy returns for its third consecutive City of Palms appearance after finishing runner-up in 2019. The Ascenders feature Top 100 prospects Jaden Bradley, Eric Dailey Jr., Jett Howard, Jarace Walker and Gus Yalden.



Top 25 prospects Chris Livingston of Buchtel, Mookie Cook and Sadraque Nganga of AZ Compass Prep, Bruce Thornton and Kanaan Carlyle of Milton, Elijah Fisher of Crestwood Prep, Robert Dillingham of Combine Academy, Caleb Foster of Oak Hill Academy and Marvel Allen of Calvary Christian Academy are among other headlining talents expected to participate.
Dariq Whitehead and Montverde Academy headline the field for the 2021 City of Palms Classic.
Dariq Whitehead and Montverde Academy headline the field for the 2021 City of Palms Classic.
File Photo by Annette Wilkerson
Here's a look at the participants across three separate events that comprise the City of Palms Classic:

16-team tournament field

Signature Series

Sunshine Series

Hugh Thimlar Tribute