Montverde Academy, IMG Academy headline 2020 City of Palms Classic

Annual event to be held Dec. 18-23 in Fort Myers, Fla.

By Jordan Divens

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Jun 18, 2020, 11:00am

Montverde Academy highlights

Watch the 2019-20 national champions in action.

Annually the premier holiday event in high school basketball, the City of Palms Classic announced its 2020 field Thursday.

The 48th annual event takes place Dec. 18-23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla.

Here's a look at the participants across three separate events that comprise the City of Palms Classic:

16-team tournament field

Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Signature Series

West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.)

*Two teams to be announced

Sunshine Series

Bartow (Fla.)

The loaded 16-team main bracket showcases teams from seven states as well as the District of Columbia.

Defending event and national champion Montverde Academy headlines again this season, featuring Top 100 prospects Jalen Duren, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Caleb Houstan, Dariq Whitehead, Langston Love and Ryan Nembhard.

IMG Academy returns to the City of Palms Classic for the third consecutive season after finishing runner-up last December. The Ascenders feature Top 100 prospects Moussa Diabate, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Jarace Walker, Tamar Bates, Jaden Bradley, Jett Howard, Eric Dailey Jr. and Lynn Kidd.

Top 40 prospects Jabari Smith of Sandy Creek, Malaki Branham of St. Vincent-St. Mary, Jalen Warley, Franck Kepnang and Dereck Lively II of Westtown, Scoot Henderson of Kell, Bruce Thornton and Kanaan Carlyle of Milton and Matthew Bewley and Ryan Bewley of Northeast are among other headlining talents expected to participate.

Jarace Walker, IMG Academy

Photo by: Jim Redman