52nd City of Palms Classic brings nation’s top high school basketball teams to Fort Myers

The 52nd annual City of Palms Classic returns to Southwest Florida from Dec. 18–23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.For more than 50 years, the tournament has showcased the nation’s best high school basketball talent, including future college and NBA stars such as Cooper Flagg, Jayson Tatum, and the Boozer twins. The 2025 field features 26 teams from 13 states, including local programs Bishop Verot, Barron Collier, and Sarasota.“This tournament is the best,” said Sarasota junior Johnny Lackaff. “It’s got the best players, and playing the best competition is going to get you better.”Bishop Verot senior Bryan Broomhead echoed that excitement. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in it,” he said. “It’s my third year, so it’s great to compete against the best.”Barron Collier coach David Watts said simply, “We’re privileged to be here. I hope we can show everybody our hard work and what it carries over on the court.”This year’s field includes powerhouse programs like Columbus High School from Miami, 2025 FHSAA 7A State Champion and Chipotle Nationals Champion; Paul VI Catholic High School from Virginia; Wheeler High School from Georgia; Montverde Academy; and Prolific Prep from Florida. Local teams will face stiff competition, including Bishop Verot and Barron Collier, in the annual Hugh Thimlar Tribute Game.Sarasota head coach BJ Ivey said the tournament offers invaluable experience. “Nothing is going to get you battle-tested like playing in the City of Palms,” he said. “You’re going to play the best of the best, and whatever weaknesses you have are going to get exposed. It’s the best opportunity to grow and get better.”Single-day tickets go on sale Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m., giving fans a chance to watch some of the nation’s top high school basketball talent compete right here in Fort Myers.Tournament ScheduleThursday, Dec. 181:45 p.m. – Philadelphia Imhotep vs. Petersburg (Va.)3:30 p.m. – Paul VI (Va.) vs. Seattle Rainier Beach5:15 p.m. – Calvary Christian vs. Tulsa Owasso7 p.m. – Sarasota vs. Archbishop Stepinac (N.J.)8:45 p.m. – Miami Columbus vs. St. Louis PrincipiaFriday, Dec. 1910:15 a.m. – Consolation Game 1: Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser12:00 p.m. – Long Island Lutheran vs. Bartlett (Tenn.)1:45 p.m. – Signature Series: Prolific Prep vs. Phoenix CIA-Bella Vista3:30 p.m. – Signature Series: Montverde Academy vs. Alexandria Gillion Academy5:15 p.m. – Bishop McNamara (Md.) vs. Marietta Wheeler (Ga.)7 p.m. – St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. The Villages8:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 3 winner vs. Game 2 winnerSaturday, Dec. 209 a.m. – Consolation: Game 7 loser vs. Game 3 loser10:40 a.m. – Consolation: Game 2 loser vs. Game 10 loser12:20 p.m. – Consolation: Game 5 loser vs. Game 11 loser2 p.m. – Sunshine Series: St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Victory Christian3:45 p.m. – Sunshine Series: Notre Dame (Conn.) vs. Olympia5:30 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 5 winner vs. Game 10 winner7:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 7 winner vs. Game 1 winner9 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 11 winner vs. Game 4 winnerSunday, Dec. 2111 a.m. – Sunshine Series Third-Place: Game 16 loser vs. Game 17 loser12:45 p.m. – Signature Series Third-Place: Game 8 loser vs. Game 9 loser2:30 p.m. – Sunshine Series Final: Game 16 winner vs. Game 17 winner4:15 p.m. – Signature Series Final: Game 9 winner vs. Game 8 winner5:50 p.m. – City of Palms Hall of Fame6:20 p.m. – North Law Firm Three-Point Shootout7 p.m. – Slam Dunk Championship8:20 p.m. – Hugh Thimlar Tribute: Bishop Verot vs. Barron CollierMonday, Dec. 2210 a.m. – Consolation Semifinal: Game 6 winner vs. Game 15 winner11:45 a.m. – Consolation Semifinal: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner1:30 p.m. – Fifth-Place Semifinal: Game 19 loser vs. Game 12 loser3:15 p.m. – Fifth-Place Semifinal: Game 20 loser vs. Game 18 loser6 p.m. – Semifinal: Game 18 winner vs. Game 12 winner8 p.m. – Semifinal: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winnerTuesday, Dec. 2310 a.m. – Challenge Round: TBA11:45 a.m. – Challenge Round: TBA1:30 p.m. – Consolation Championship: Game 26 winner vs. Game 27 winner3:15 p.m. – Fifth-Place Championship: Game 29 winner vs. Game 28 winner6 p.m. – Third-Place Game: Game 30 loser vs. Game 31 loser8 p.m. – Championship Game: Game 30 winner vs. Game 31 winnerDOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

The 52nd annual City of Palms Classic returns to Southwest Florida from Dec. 18–23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.

For more than 50 years, the tournament has showcased the nation’s best high school basketball talent, including future college and NBA stars such as Cooper Flagg, Jayson Tatum, and the Boozer twins. The 2025 field features 26 teams from 13 states, including local programs Bishop Verot, Barron Collier, and Sarasota.

“This tournament is the best,” said Sarasota junior Johnny Lackaff. “It’s got the best players, and playing the best competition is going to get you better.”

Bishop Verot senior Bryan Broomhead echoed that excitement. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in it,” he said. “It’s my third year, so it’s great to compete against the best.”

Barron Collier coach David Watts said simply, “We’re privileged to be here. I hope we can show everybody our hard work and what it carries over on the court.”

This year’s field includes powerhouse programs like Columbus High School from Miami, 2025 FHSAA 7A State Champion and Chipotle Nationals Champion; Paul VI Catholic High School from Virginia; Wheeler High School from Georgia; Montverde Academy; and Prolific Prep from Florida. Local teams will face stiff competition, including Bishop Verot and Barron Collier, in the annual Hugh Thimlar Tribute Game.

Sarasota head coach BJ Ivey said the tournament offers invaluable experience. “Nothing is going to get you battle-tested like playing in the City of Palms,” he said. “You’re going to play the best of the best, and whatever weaknesses you have are going to get exposed. It’s the best opportunity to grow and get better.”

Single-day tickets go on sale Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m., giving fans a chance to watch some of the nation’s top high school basketball talent compete right here in Fort Myers.

Tournament Schedule

Thursday, Dec. 18
1:45 p.m. – Philadelphia Imhotep vs. Petersburg (Va.)
3:30 p.m. – Paul VI (Va.) vs. Seattle Rainier Beach
5:15 p.m. – Calvary Christian vs. Tulsa Owasso
7 p.m. – Sarasota vs. Archbishop Stepinac (N.J.)
8:45 p.m. – Miami Columbus vs. St. Louis Principia

Friday, Dec. 19
10:15 a.m. – Consolation Game 1: Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser
12:00 p.m. – Long Island Lutheran vs. Bartlett (Tenn.)
1:45 p.m. – Signature Series: Prolific Prep vs. Phoenix CIA-Bella Vista
3:30 p.m. – Signature Series: Montverde Academy vs. Alexandria Gillion Academy
5:15 p.m. – Bishop McNamara (Md.) vs. Marietta Wheeler (Ga.)
7 p.m. – St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. The Villages
8:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 3 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Saturday, Dec. 20
9 a.m. – Consolation: Game 7 loser vs. Game 3 loser
10:40 a.m. – Consolation: Game 2 loser vs. Game 10 loser
12:20 p.m. – Consolation: Game 5 loser vs. Game 11 loser
2 p.m. – Sunshine Series: St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Victory Christian
3:45 p.m. – Sunshine Series: Notre Dame (Conn.) vs. Olympia
5:30 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 5 winner vs. Game 10 winner
7:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 7 winner vs. Game 1 winner
9 p.m. – Quarterfinal: Game 11 winner vs. Game 4 winner

Sunday, Dec. 21
11 a.m. – Sunshine Series Third-Place: Game 16 loser vs. Game 17 loser
12:45 p.m. – Signature Series Third-Place: Game 8 loser vs. Game 9 loser
2:30 p.m. – Sunshine Series Final: Game 16 winner vs. Game 17 winner
4:15 p.m. – Signature Series Final: Game 9 winner vs. Game 8 winner
5:50 p.m. – City of Palms Hall of Fame
6:20 p.m. – North Law Firm Three-Point Shootout
7 p.m. – Slam Dunk Championship
8:20 p.m. – Hugh Thimlar Tribute: Bishop Verot vs. Barron Collier

Monday, Dec. 22
10 a.m. – Consolation Semifinal: Game 6 winner vs. Game 15 winner
11:45 a.m. – Consolation Semifinal: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner
1:30 p.m. – Fifth-Place Semifinal: Game 19 loser vs. Game 12 loser
3:15 p.m. – Fifth-Place Semifinal: Game 20 loser vs. Game 18 loser
6 p.m. – Semifinal: Game 18 winner vs. Game 12 winner
8 p.m. – Semifinal: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner

Tuesday, Dec. 23
10 a.m. – Challenge Round: TBA
11:45 a.m. – Challenge Round: TBA
1:30 p.m. – Consolation Championship: Game 26 winner vs. Game 27 winner
3:15 p.m. – Fifth-Place Championship: Game 29 winner vs. Game 28 winner
6 p.m. – Third-Place Game: Game 30 loser vs. Game 31 loser
8 p.m. – Championship Game: Game 30 winner vs. Game 31 winner

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.