Kanye West's Donda Academy headlines 2022 City of Palms Classic; Gateway, Canterbury invited
Harder, better, faster, stronger.
That's the philosophy every year for the Culligan City of Palms Classic, which continues to innovate in its 49th edition.
The long-running high school basketball tournament announced its field last week and held a press conference on Tuesday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena to highlight the star-studded teams that will be battling it out from December 16-21.
The Kanye West-launched prep school Donda Academy, along with Corona Centennial, will be the first two schools from California invited to compete in seven years.
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Donda Academy, which will compete in the City of Palms' Signature Series, will bring several nationally ranked seniors, including Robert Dillingham (No. 5 ESPN) and Javonte Taylor (No. 12 ESPN).
"They haven't been around very long — really last year was their first year," said tournament director Donnie Wilkie. "It's just really a chance to kind of put them on the national stage, but, at the same, I do recognize that they significantly move the needle for a younger audience."
Two-time reigning champion Montverde will not be in the field, along with some of the other usual suspects like IMG Academy and Oak Hill.
"With (Montverde) telling me right up front, 'We're going to go to Hawaii this year,' I made the decision to go the opposite way and to literally create the best field that we could create ... and go with the high school basketball theme," Wilkie said. "These are all regular, normal public and private high schools with a charter school or two throw in there in the main bracket."
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One team that will return from last year's tournament is reigning Class 7A champion Columbus, a team with a roster that includes former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer's twin sons Cameron and Cayden Boozer. After winning the Hugh Thimlar Tribute game against Southwest Florida Christian last season, Columbus will compete in the main bracket this year.
Another intriguing prospect is Reed Sheppard, out of North Laurel High School in Kentucky. Sheppard, a four-star shooting guard, has committed to Kentucky.
Edgerrin James Jr., the son of Hall-of-Fame football star and Immokalee alumni Edgerrin James, will compete with his team, Olympia High School, in the Hugh Thimlar Tribute game.
Other top players that will be featured in the tournament include ESPN-ranked players like Wheeler's Isaiah Collier and Centennial's Jared McCain.
Philadelphia's Imhotep Charter is another team to watch with point guard Rahmir Barno, who recently committed to FGCU, along with ESPN-ranked players Justin Edwards and Ahmad Nowell.
Canterbury and Charlotte will represent Southwest Florida in the main field while Gateway will play in the Hugh Thimlar game.
"It's not about wins and losses at our tournament for the local teams," Wilkie said. "The statement is simple — you were selected because you belong in this tournament."
In their first varsity season, Gateway had a Cinderella run to the Class 3A-District 8 championship, defeating Canterbury in the title game. Getting the call from Wilkie inviting the Eagles to play in the City of Palms was "shocking," said head coach Quran Pettyjohn.
"It was one of those things that it was a little surreal, very exciting," Pettyjohn said. "I was glad to just be suggested or even looked at as a school, especially after our first year."
The Tarpons will return for a fourth consecutive time, while Canterbury is back for its fourth invite overall and first time since 2017.
"It's a responsibility, but it's also a great thrill," said Canterbury head coach Mike Hibbs. "It's going to be a great way for us to gain knowledge about who we are and how we can get better."
Canterbury junior Justin Heinrichs described it as an honor to play in the tournament and was excited at the chance to compete in the 3-point shootout.
"Ever since I was a kid, I'd come and watch the City of Palms," Heinrichs said. "Now, getting a chance to finally play in the City of Palms, I can cross that off my basketball checklist."
The last time the Cougars competed at the tournament, Hibbs was an assistant on the coaching staff. He has brought his team to watch the games every year, and the City of Palms squads even use the Canterbury gym to practice.
"I don't think there's a better tournament in the nation than this one as far as class, quality teams, well run and just everything it's done for the community as well as for the kids," Hibbs said.
Teams in the 49th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic
Main Bracket
Archbishop Stepinac (New York)
Canterbury
Centennial (California)
Charlotte
Christopher Columbus
Imhotep Charter (Pennsylvania)
Isidore Newman (Louisiana)
Wheeler (Georgia)
Lake Highlands (Texas)
Myers Park (North Carolina)
Newton (Georgia)
North Laurel (Kentucky)
Tampa Catholic
Vashon (Missouri)
Winter Haven
Signature Series
Donda Academy (California)
Link Academy (Missouri)
Saint Francis Academy (Maryland)
The Rock School
Sunshine Series
IMG Academy Blue
Westminster Academy
Providence School
The Villages HS
Hugh Thimlar Tribute
Gateway
Olympia
Game-By-Game Schedule
FRIDAY - DECEMBER 16
Friday 2:30 PM - Game 1
Vashon HS (Missouri) vs Archbishop Stepinac (New York)
Friday 4:15 PM - Game 2
Lake Highlands HS (Texas) vs Newton HS (Georgia)
Friday 6:00 PM - Game 3
HUGH THIMLAR TRIBUTE Gateway HS vs Olympia HS
Friday 7:45 PM - Game 4
Charlotte HS vs North Laurel HS (Kentucky)
Friday 9:30 PM - Game 5
Wheeler HS (Georgia) vs Tampa Catholic
SATURDAY - DECEMBER 17
Saturday 10:15 A.M. - Game 6
Consolation Game Gm 2 loser vs Gm 4 loser
Saturday 12:00 P.M. - Game 7
SUNSHINE SERIES Providence School vs The Villages HS
Saturday 1:45 P.M. - Game 8
SUNSHINE SERIES IMG Academy Blue (FL) vs Westminster Academy
Saturday 3:30 P.M. - Game 9
Imhotep Charter (Pennsylvania) vs Isidore Newman School (LA)
Saturday 5:15 P.M. - Game 10
St. Paul VI HS (Virginia) vs Canterbury School
Saturday 7:00 P.M. - Game 11
Centennial HS (California) vs Winter Haven HS
Saturday 8:45 P.M. - Game 12
Gm 4 winner vs Myers Park (North Carolina)
SUNDAY - DECEMBER 18
Sunday 12:00 P.M. - Game 13
Consolation Game Gm 1 loser vs Gm 9 loser
Sunday 1:45 PM - Game 14
SIGNATURE SERIES Link Academy (Missouri) vs Saint Francis Academy (Maryland)
Sunday 3:30 PM - Game 15
SIGNATURE SERIES Donda Academy (California) vs The Rock School (Florida)
Sunday 5:15 PM - Game 16
Quarterfinal Gm 1 winner vs Gm 9 winner
Sunday 6:50 PM - Bahama Breeze 45-second Challenge
Sunday 6:50 PM - Bahama Breeze 45-second Challenge
Sunday 7:00 P.M - Joe North THREE-POINT SHOOTOUT
Sunday 7:45 P.M. - Edison National Bank SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP
MONDAY - DECEMBER 19
Monday 10:30 A.M. - Game 17
Consolation Game Gm 11 loser vs Gm 12 loser
Monday 12:10 P.M. - Game 18
SUNSHINE SERIES-THIRD PLACE Gm 7 loser vs Gm 8 loser
Monday 1:50 P.M. - Game 19
SUNSHINE SERIES-CHAMPIONSHIP Gm 8 winner vs Gm 7 winner
Monday 3:30 P.M. - Game 20
Consolation Gm 5 loser vs Gm 10 loser
Monday 5:15 P.M. - Game 21
Quarterfinal Gm 10 winner vs Gm 2 winner
Monday 7:45 P.M. - Game 22
Quarterfinal Christopher Columbus vs Gm 12 winner
Monday 8:45 P.M. - Game 23
Quarterfinal Gm 11 winner vs Gm 5 winner
TUESDAY - DECEMBER 20
Tuesday 8:30 A.M. - Game 24
Consolation semifinal Gm 13 winner vs Gm 17 winner
Tuesday 10:15 A.M. - Game 25
Consolation semifinal Gm 6 winner vs Gm 20 winner
Tuesday 12:00 P.M. - Game 26
SIGNATURE SERIES THIRD-PLACE Gm 15 loser vs Gm 14 loser
Tuesday 1:45 P.M. - Game 27
Fifth-place semifinal Gm 22 loser vs Gm 16 loser
Tuesday 3:30 P.M. - Game 28
Fifth-place semifinal Gm 21 loser vs Gm 23 loser
Tuesday 6:00 P.M. - Game 29
Semifinal Gm 21 winner vs Gm 22 winner
Tuesday 8:00 P.M. - Game 30
Semifinal Gm 16 winner vs Gm 23 winner
Tuesday 10:00 P.M. - Game 31
SIGNATURE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP Gm 14 winner vs Gm 15 winner
WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 21
Wednesday 10:15 A.M. - Game 32
Challenge-round game
Wednesday 12:00 P.M. - Game 33
Consolation Championship Gm 25 winner vs Gm 24 winner
Wednesday 1:45 P.M. - Game 34
Fifth-place championship Gm 28 winner vs Gm 27 winner
Wednesday 3:30 P.M. - Game 35
Challenge-round game
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. - Game 36
Third Place Final Gm 29 loser vs Gm 30 loser
Wednesday 8:00 P.M. - Game 37
Championship Gm 29 winner vs Gm 30 winner
Follow News-Press Sports Reporter Dustin Levy on Twitter: @DustinBLevy. For additional coverage of sports across Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: City of Palms: Kanye West's Donda Academy headlines 2022 field
