All-Tournament Team: City of Palms Classic
The 45th annual City of Palms Classic wrapped up this week at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Ft. Myers, Fla.
There were a ton of fine performances and hard-nosed matchups.
Here are the players from the All-Tournament Team.
First Team
Sharife Cooper (Georgia McEachern)
The sophomore sensation averaged a whopping 27 points and 4.5 assists per game. Cooper had a game-winner in an 83-81 overtime victory over Ranney in a quarterfinal on Wednesday. The jumper came at the buzzer in overtime and Cooper was fully covered but still managed to score in route to 42 points. The 6’0″ guard also averaged 4.5 assists for the week.
Bryan Antoine (Ranney)
Antoine averaged 29.5 points, 4.7 steals and 4.5 rebounds in four games. The 6’5″ junior managed a 36-point day on Saturday in the consolation championship as he connected at a half court heave to beat Alabama Mountain Brook. This came just moments after Trendon Watford put his team ahead with 1.2 seconds left in the game.
Jahvon Quinerly (New Jersey Hudson Catholic)
Quinerly showed up to play in the bright lights with averages of 23.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. The 6’1″ senior had his best output with 28 points in a loss to McEachern on Wednesday.
Trendon Watford (Alabama Mountain Brook)
It was a tremendous week for Mountain Brook junior forward Trendon Watford. He averaged 23.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Spartans. He almost singlehandedly brought his group back from a 19-point deficit on Saturday. The 6’9″ forward missed a basket then got a steal and two points with 1.2 seconds left until Ranney won on the half court buzzer beater from Antoine described above.
Emmitt Williams (Oak Ridge)
Williams averaged 20.7 points and 10 rebounds in four games on the week. The 6’7″ Oak Ridge senior was his typical self, hammering highlight-reel dunks, grabbing boards and hustling up and down the floor. He now has 165 points in eight career City of Palms games in his hometown.
Moses Brown (New York Archbishop Molloy)
Brown averaged 20 points and 8.6 rebounds for the week including a 25-point, 11-rebound performance in a loss to Mountain Brook on Friday. The 7’2″ senior is full of length and gets easy rebounds. If he can develop his jump shot further, then he’ll be a legitimate threat at the next level.
Jordan McCabe (Wisconsin Kaukauna)
36.5 points per game in two matchups for senior West Virginia commit Jordan McCabe. A flashy player who finished second in Wednesday’s 3-point shootout, McCabe is fun to watch. The 6’1″ guard averaged 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Vernon Carey Jr. (University)
Carey Jr. is our top-ranked 2019 prospect in the state of Florida for a reason. He was Mr. Reliable with averages of 21 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as the Sharks captured the City of Palms title in the upset win over Memphis East. A 6’10” center, Carey Jr. is still working on his jumper, but he is flat out impressive around the rim on both sides of the ball.
Robby Carmody (Pennsylvania Mars)
A senior Notre Dame commit, Carmody averaged 34.5 points per game in two Signature Series matchups. He also averaged seven rebounds and four steals on the week. A 6’4″ guard, his game fits in well for the Irish with his high IQ and leadership.
Second Team
Cole Anthony (New York Archbishop Molloy)
Making his way down from New York, the 6’2″ junior flashed his playmaking ability with averages of 22 points, seven rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Anthony’s game in Thursday’s win over John Marshall was filled with 37 points, eight rebounds and three assists as he shot 21-of-27 from the free throw line. He scored 17 and 12 points in the other two games.
Isaiah Todd (John Marshall)
Todd was one of the top sophomores on the week. The 6’11” big man averaged 22.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He nearly had 20 points in all three games with performances of 19, 26 and 22. Todd is a good shooter who will be even more impressive when he adds muscle to his frame.
Carte’Are Gordon (Missouri Webster Groves)
Gordon, a senior St. Louis commit averaged 19.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The 6’8″ center had 23 points and 16 rebounds in a win over Canterbury on Saturday. Gordon is a determined player inside who doesn’t lose many battles on the board.
Spencer Freedman (California Mater Dai)
Freedman averaged 20 points per game in three matchups and 3.6 assists on the week. A superb 3-point shooter, who happened to win the 3-point contest on Wednesday night, Freedman is headed to Harvard next fall. At 6’1″, he’s a passionate basketball player who is loud and vocal as the point man.
Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon)
A senior Iowa State commit averaged 19 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He had an impressive debut with 27 points against Wesleyan Christian on Thursday. At 6’5″, Horton-Tucker looks like a grown man out on the court and he is physical.
Andrew Taylor (Kentucky Corbin)
Taylor averaged 31 points in two Signature Series games including a 36-point, 13-rebound and seven-rebound day in a win over Mars on Wednesday. The 6’4″ guard is headed to Furman next season. He’s sneaky good in transition and has solid form on his jumper.
Jaylen Hoard (North Carolina Wesleyan Christian)
A senior headed to Wake Forest next year, Hoard averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Trojans on the week. At 6’8″, Hoard can drive to the hoop with ease and has a knack for dishing the ball out to his spot up shooters.
Isaac Okoro (McEachern)
Okoro was able to average 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds on the week for McEachern. A 6’6″ junior, he benefits from playing with some highly gifted players including Cooper and fellow junior Jared Jones. But at the same time, Okoro can hold his own and he displayed that.
Scottie Barnes (University)
Barnes was named the MVP of the City of Palms Classic title game with his 15-point, 8-rebound performance. For the week, he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds. The 6’8″ sophomore had huge games including a 29-point, 10-rebound night and a 10-point, 10-rebound, five-assist and four-block game. Barnes is a versatile chess piece that is part of a smart and determined Sharks unit.
Trey Doomes (University)
Doomes is deceivingly good. The 6’3″ West Virginia commit came to play this week for the City of Palms champion University. He averaged 15 points and seven rebounds for the Sharks. He’s a gritty senior who doesn’t take defensive intensity lightly and is sound as an offensive contributor.
James Wiseman (Memphis East)
Wiseman is the consensus No. 1 2019 prospect in the entire country by many sources. He played very well at times, but he has room to improve. The first two games, the 7-footer scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Wiseman averaged 15.5 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game for the runner-up Mustangs.
Alex Lomax (Memphis East)
Committed to Wichita State, there are many reasons to like Lomax’s game. He averaged 14.5 points, seven rebounds and six assists on the week. The 6’0″ guard is a load inside and he fights through contact. He had a triple double (20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists) in the City of Palms final loss to University.
Third Team
Drue Drinnon (University)
Drinnon was part of a legitimate “Big Four” for the Sharks alongside Carey, Barnes and Doomes. The 6’0″ senior New Mexico commit averaged 13 points on the week and made steady contributions as a passer and speedster on the break. His 20-point game against McEachern in the semifinal propelled his team to victory on Friday night.
Caleb Catto (Southwest Florida Christian)
A senior FGCU commit, Catto dropped 30 points in an opening day in a loss to Wildwood. The 6’5″ guard/forward shot 8-of-20 from the field which included an impressive 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Catto also had six rebounds and five assists.
Darion Wilson (Wildwood)
Wildwood played in the Sunshine Series on Monday and earned a 79-68 victory over Southwest Florida Christian. The 6’1″ senior was solid all-around for the Wildcats with 27 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Wilson shot 7-of-12 from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw stride.
Jamal Mashburn Jr. (Gulliver Prep)
Only a sophomore, Jamal Mashburn Jr. showed up in Gulliver Prep’s lone game, a win over Lehigh on Tuesday. He scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. At 6’0″, Mashburn Jr. has a quick first step that helps him all over the floor.
Bershard Edwards (Lehigh)
Edwards, a 6’1″ senior guard had 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 77-70 loss to Gulliver Prep in a Sunshine Series game on Tuesday. The 2018 guard has become more aggressive after a few seasons as an assist man and second and third offensive option.
Berrick Jeanlouis (Canterbury)
The senior South Alabama commit averaged 17 points in three games including games of 24 and 20 points. Jeanlouis also averaged eight rebounds per game. At 6’5″, the Canterbury guard/forward is a gifted ballhandler who can make things happen with his pure athleticism.
Aaron Wiggins (North Carolina Wesleyan Christian)
Averaging 16.6 points per game, the Maryland commit had some really bright moments in the tourney. However, he ended the final day in foul trouble and a nine-point outing. At 6’6″, Wiggins plays an up-tempo game and he can score in bunches when hot.
Nassir Little (Orlando Christian Prep)
Unfortunately, Little suffered an ankle injury in OCP’s second game of the tourney against Lakewood Ranch. He added 24 points and six rebounds in the opener against North Carolina Wesleyan Christian. The senior UNC commit had four points before leaving game No. 2 and he sat out the final game against Ranney. Little is a gifted athlete at his 6’7″ frame.
Tavias Fagan (Georgia Upson-Lee)
It wasn’t a pretty start to the week for Fagan with a 16-point game where he shot 8-of-22 from the field. However, the 6’3″ senior makes the list due to his 34-point outing in a 73-71 Signature Series title win. Overall, the floor stretcher averaged 25 points in two matchups.
Jaduhkiss Soto (Osceola)
Transferring from Kissimmee Gateway, the 6’5″ junior forward led his Kowboys with 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field. Soto has a knack for a big play around the rim. Even though he wasn’t knocking down his jumpers consistently, he made plays inside on the attack.
Jeffery Hernandez (Miami Christian)
Diego Rivera led Miami Christian in points with 15 in a 70-63 win over Osceola in the Sunshine Series on Thursday. However, it was senior Jeffery Hernandez who flashed his consistency and playmaking ability. The 6’5″ guard shot 5-of-10 from the field, hitting both of his 3-point attempts to record 13 points. Hernandez also had six rebounds.
Evan Spiller (Lakewood Ranch)
The 6’3″ senior averaged 12 points per game for the Mustangs, who finished 1-2 on the week. He had two 15 point outings and made some nifty moves to the basket. He also showed off his stride on his mid-range jumper. Spiller is a leader for this team-oriented Lakewood Ranch group.
Photo credit: City of Palms