Previewing the 2019 City of Palms Classic: Montverde Academy enters as overwhelming favorite

Video: Highlights from City of Palms Finals

The City of Palms Classic has clearly distinguished itself over the years as the top regular season basketball tournament.

In its 47th year, the event has seen more talent than any other high school basketball event in the land with the longevity and consistent star power that sets this tournament apart. The City of Palms Classic has featured approximately 1,000 players who've played Division I basketball, 165 McDonald's All-Americans (including 10 alone last year) and 72 players who were on NBA rosters at the start of the 2018-19 season.

Over the years LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Joel Embiid, Joe Johnson, Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and John Wall are among the top names to participate in the prestigious event.
This year promises much of the same as 17 5-star prospects, along with nine of the Top 25 teams in the nation will compete in Fort Myers, Fla from Dec. 18-23.

Top-ranked Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) are overwhelming favorites in the 16-team traditional field, as the Eagles are coming off an impressive 20-point win over No. 16 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) last week.

The Eagles roster features six 5-star prospects as Oklahoma State pledge Cade Cunningham (No. 2 in Class of 2020 according to 247Sports), Florida State-bound Scottie Barnes (No. 9 in Class of 2020), North Carolina signee Day'Ron Sharpe (No. 14 in Class of 2020), Langston Love (No. 17 in Class of 2021), Caleb Houstan (No. 14 in Class of 2022) and Dariq Whitehead (No. 15 in Class of 2022) headline a loaded Eagles rotation.

No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), the defending national champions, are expected to challenge the Eagles despite a slow start to the season.

The Ascenders have struggled early in the year, falling to No. 4 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) and escaping with a 76-70 double-overtime win last week over Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.).

Tennessee-bound Jaden Springer (No. 17 in Class of 2020) and Duke pledge Mark Williams (No. 30 in Class of 2020) lead IMG.

Other top contenders in the event include Paolo Banchero (No. 3 in Class of 2021) and No. 19 O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.), reigning National Player of the Year Sharife Cooper (Auburn signee, No. 18 in Class of 2020) and No. 21 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.).

North Carolina pledge R.J. Davis (No. 58 in Class of 2020), Duke commit Adrian Griffin Jr. (No. 8 in Class of 2021) and No. 24 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) as well as Kennedy Chandler (No. 15 in Class of 2021) and No. 24 Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.).

Some dark horses include Kentucky signee Cam'ron Fletcher (No. 44 in Class of 2020) and Vashon (St. Louis), Virginia-bound Reece Beekman (No. 55 in Class of 2020) and Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.), Duke signee DJ Steward (No. 26 in Class of 2020) and Whitney Young (Chicago), Jalen Duren (No. 2 in Class of 2022) and Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) and Terrance Williams (No. 83 in Class of 2020) and Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).

Other teams set to participate in the 16-team traditional bracket include Sanford (Hockessin, Del.), Marshall County (Benton, Ky.), Riverview Sarasota (Sarasota, Fla.), Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and local Fort Myers (Fla.).

The four-team Signature Series field is loaded with talent as well, with No. 12 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) taking on West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.) and No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) facing off against No. 20 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) in semifinal showdowns.