As the highschool basketball season reaches its midpoint, the 51st annual Metropolis of Palms match in Fort Myers, FL, showcased a number of the prime highschool gamers and groups within the nation simply earlier than the vacation season. With an abundance of elite expertise on show, a number of prospects separated themselves from the remaining.
Cameron Boozer 6’9 245 PF – Christopher Columbus 2025 (Duke)
Cameron Boozer (pictured) was the standout participant within the 2024 Metropolis of Palms Traditional, serving because the driving power behind his staff’s match victory. He utilized his measurement and power to make a big affect in video games. Boozer is a bodily participant who excels within the paint, relying closely on his bodily attributes. Whereas his taking pictures and athleticism has raised considerations all through his highschool profession, he demonstrated enchancment throughout the match, taking pictures 29 for 47 from the sphere and hitting 7 for 17 from three-point vary, together with a number of photographs past the school three-point line. His efficiency within the championship sport was not his finest, however his physicality and hustle resulted in a line of 14 factors, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, serving to lead Columbus to the title. Over the course of the match, Boozer averaged 20.25 factors, 9.25 rebounds, and a couple of.75 assists, incomes him recognition as Co-MVP.
Darius Acuff 6’2 175 PG – IMG Academy (Arkansas)
In the course of the Metropolis of Palms Traditional, Darius Acuff bolstered his fame because the #1 level guard within the class of 2025, showcasing his scoring and playmaking expertise. Acuff considerably impacted the sport and demonstrated his capacity to take management when wanted. He was instrumental in two double-digit comebacks for IMG, significantly in sport one of many match, the place he helped his staff overcome a 16-point deficit. Acuff completed sport 1 with 38 factors on 15 photographs and hit a deep three-pointer with below 10 seconds remaining, resulting in an extra time victory. Acuff exhibited the capability to attain in any respect three ranges and proved to be a dynamic participant all through the match, taking pictures 51.2% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc throughout 4 video games. For the match, Acuff completed with averages of 31.5 factors, 6.25 assists, and three.75 rebounds per sport, incomes him a share of the Co-MVP award.
Jalen Haralson 6’7 215 SF – La Lumiere (Notre Dame)
Haralson is ranked among the many prime 15 recruits within the class of 2025, showcasing his potential whilst his staff confronted challenges. La Lumiere completed the week with a 1-2 document, struggling an upset in sport three towards Owasso from Oklahoma. Haralson is a strong-bodied small ahead who demonstrated his capacity to run the offense and deal with the ball successfully. With a excessive motor and vitality, he made impactful performs and setup his teammates all through the week. Nonetheless, his inconsistent taking pictures was a setback, as he ended the week with a taking pictures proportion of simply over 41% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc on 20 makes an attempt. Regardless of this, his tenacity and physicality allowed him to common 19.6 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and three assists over the three video games.
Caleb Holt 6’5 200 CG -Grayson (Uncommitted)
Holt was the highest-rated junior on the Metropolis of Palms and lived as much as the invoice. Holt was very important to his staff’s success, resulting in a 3-1 document and a Fifth-place end. Holt had stable averages of 16.5 factors, 7 rebounds, and a couple of.75 assists per sport, leading to an All-Event staff bid. Holt confirmed promise enjoying on and off the ball along with his capacity to maneuver the ball, discover his teammates, and rebound in bunches from the guard spot. Holt should proceed to work on his outdoors taking pictures as he shot simply over 40% from the ground and went 2 of 12 from past the arc. Holt was at his finest getting downhill and within the mid-range. Holt was in a position to affect video games utilizing his measurement and athleticism, ending on the basket utilizing his bodily body and attending to the road at will, the place he completed 17-22 within the match.
Jalen Montonati 6’7 185 SF/PF – Owasso (Uncommitted)
Montonati is broadly considered a prime 20 participant within the class of 2026 and showcased his scoring capacity on the Metropolis of Palms match. His play led his staff to a sixth-place end, attaining upset victories towards a number of prime 10 groups nationally. Montonati averaged 26.25 factors and 4.5 rebounds per sport all through the match, demonstrating a powerful taking pictures proportion of 48.6% from the ground and 47.2% from past the arc on 36 makes an attempt. As he continues to develop, including weight and rising his athleticism shall be useful, as a good portion of his scoring got here from bounce photographs. Together with his measurement and size, he has the potential to turn into a simpler slasher, able to ending across the rim and over defenders.
Sadiq White 6’8 200 PF – IMG (Syracuse)
White emerged as one of many prime prospects in highschool basketball throughout the 2024 calendar 12 months, incomes a fifth star and transferring to Nationwide Powerhouse IMG Academy. He performed a key function on the Metropolis of Palms Event, serving to his staff overcome a number of double-digit deficits, which finally led them to a third-place end. All through the match, White averaged 14.5 factors and seven.75 rebounds per sport, taking pictures a powerful 68.5% from the ground. Nonetheless, including a long-range taking pictures risk would assist increase the ground, as he made solely 2 of 6 makes an attempt from past the arc. His athleticism and pace allow him to get previous greater defenders and successfully guard smaller gamers. Nonetheless, it is going to be essential for him so as to add power to his sport, as his lowest rebounding output was simply two, and he struggled with physicality across the rim.
Jaxon Richardson 6’5 185 SF – Columbus (Uncommitted)
Jaxon Richardson emerged as an unsung hero for his staff, serving to lead Columbus to the Metropolis of Palms title. Richardson has gritty toughness, making him a pesky defender prepared to combine it up with numerous gamers. All through the match, he showcased a various talent set, highlighted by his explosive athleticism and spectacular leaping capacity, ending above the rim a number of occasions. Standing at a real 6’5″ with a wingspan shut to six’10”, Richardson gained a big defensive edge, disrupting the opposing staff’s all week. His scoring capacity was a key issue for Columbus, as he averaged 18.5 factors and three rebounds per sport, taking pictures 73.3% from the ground and 38.4% from past the arc on 13 makes an attempt.
Dante Allen 6’3 215 SG – Montverde (Villanova)
Allen proved to be a significant piece for Montverde on the Metropolis of Palms, main his staff to a 2nd place end. He’s a score-first guard who excelled in any respect three scoring ranges all through 4 video games. With a quick-release shot, Allen hit deep three-pointers, successfully drove to the basket, and utilized quite a lot of floaters in visitors. Allen had some defensive struggles at occasions as a consequence of being a mediocre athlete, he excelled in straight-line drives and ceaselessly completed above the rim with spectacular dunks in transition. Total, it was a stable efficiency for the Villanova commit, as he averaged 18.5 factors, 4 rebounds, and 4.25 assists for the match, taking pictures 57.1% from the sphere and 45.1% from three-point vary on 31 makes an attempt over 4 video games.
Cayden Boozer 6’4 208 PG – Columbus (Duke)
Cayden Boozer possesses wonderful measurement for a degree guard and demonstrates full management of the sport. He performs to his strengths, utilizing a outstanding tempo and a powerful understanding of the sport to persistently put his staff in positions to win. All through the match, Boozer showcased his scoring capacity, making well timed baskets when mandatory. He additionally utilized his imaginative and prescient and intangibles to arrange his teammates for fulfillment. Boozer successfully managed the offense within the half courtroom, resulting in scores off set performs, and he excelled in transition, making the fitting choices that resulted in simple buckets. By the top of the match, he averaged 11.25 factors and 5.5 assists per sport, taking pictures 52.7% total and 50% from past the arc on six makes an attempt.
Jamier Jones 6’6 220 SF – Oak Ridge (Windfall)
Jones had a stable displaying all through the week as he was on the core of his staff’s 4th-place end. A powerful athletic ahead prepared to combine it up in and across the paint, utilizing his power typically put him able for fulfillment. Jones can rebound in visitors and is robust sufficient with the ball to make performs for himself or his teammates. He makes use of his athleticism to attain towards extra distinguished defenders and power towards smaller guards. Jones consistently makes use of his body in visitors as he spent a ton of time on the line going 30-38 within the match. It was a productive week, averaging 23 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Including a extra constant jumper will solely increase his sport, as he shot 46% from the ground and 25% from past the arc on 16 makes an attempt.
