Culligan City of Palms Classic Website

Suncoast Credit Union Arena

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Every year basketball enthusiasts around the nation look forward to the Culligan City of Palms Classic with great anticipation, and starting in 2016 they can once again catch all of the action during the six-day event on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. Then named Edison Community College, FSW hosted the City of Palms Classic from 1973-83 and then again in 1990 and 1993.

After more than 20 years at Bishop Verot Catholic High School, it was announced Thursday (Sept 10) that one of America’s premiere boys’ basketball tournaments will be held at FSW’s Suncoast Credit Union Arena beginning in 2016. The new 75,000-square-foot, 3,300-seat arena, which is currently under construction and slated for completion in the fall of 2016, was chosen for its ability to accommodate the growing tournament well into the future, among other reasons.

Tournament President Bill Pollock said, “We value the hospitality and wonderful memories Verot has afforded us, and we cannot overstate how instrumental our partnership has been in the success of the Classic over the last couple of decades. The school and administration has had a large hand in building the tournament to the point where we needed to seek out a new venue that will offer the facilities and space needed to ensure a great experience for players and fans far into the future.”

At a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Classic Basketball, Inc. board of directors voted unanimously to finalize the agreement to move the tournament to its new home starting in 2016.

“FSW is very pleased to host this prestigious event in our Suncoast Credit Union Arena starting in 2016,” said FSW President Dr. Jeff Allbritten. “The City of Palms Classic is a long-standing tradition in Fort Myers. For 22 years, this tournament has set the standard when it comes to attracting exceptionally talented high school teams from around the country. Hundreds of these players have gone on to Division I teams and the NBA. It speaks volumes for the organizers of this event because of the caliber of teams that compete, and that such nationally recognized coaches and players like Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird and Doc Rivers have attended.”

“We are very excited to announce that FSW’s Suncoast Credit Union Arena will be hosting the City of Palms Basketball Tournament,” said FSW Director of Athletics Carl McAloose. “This is the first of many events that will be scheduled in the Arena. Bill Pollock, Donnie Wilkie, John Naylor, Rusty Whitley and so many others have built this into one of the premier High School Basketball Tournaments in the country, so it makes it even more exciting for us to host. The City of Palms Classic will enable us to showcase FSW to so many people who have never been on our campus.” 

This year the Culligan City of Palms Classic will run December 18 through 23 at the 2,300-seat gymnasium at Bishop Verot. No fees are collected from players and teams, and Classic Basketball Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that acts as a foundation for the tournament, covers all expenses for the players.

For more information on Buccaneer Athletics follow @FSWBucs on Twitter or log on to FSWBucs.com.

Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Suncoast Credit Union Arena, which is set to be completed in Fall 2016, will be approximately 75,000 square feet and will host the FSW Buccaneers’ basketball and volleyball teams, and a student athletic center. The arena will seat approximately 3,300 fans and include six skyboxes, a hospitality event center, competition courts that convert into recreational courts, athletic office space, student, faculty and staff wellness, and an athletic center with a fitness pavilion, men’s and women’s locker rooms and a weight training area.

About the Culligan City of Palms Classic
Founded in 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local, holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded its scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and over the past 22 years, has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared. Classic Basketball Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing the Culligan City of Palms Classic. Visit cityofpalmsclassic.com for all the information on this not-for-profit tournament featuring the top-ranked players and teams, including visitor information, ticket sales, schedule, team information, history, sponsors and sponsorship opportunities, eNewsletter signup, a tournament bracket, scores and stats, information on how to lend financial support as a Friend of the Classic, and much more.

City of Palms Classic | Tournament History
In 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local, holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and over the past 22 years, has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared.

City of Palms Classic | Historical Highlights

• More than 530 players have advanced to NCAA Division I competition
• More than 60 players have advanced to play professionally in the National Basketball Association, including:
  • 2010 NBA 1st Overall Pick John Wall
  • Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson
  • 2014 NBA 1st Overall Pick and 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins
  • Three-time All-NBA selecton and four-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge

• 70+ players have played in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game at the end of their senior seasons, including 14 in each of the past five seasons.
• The 2008 tournament was labeled: “The best field in the history of high school basketball” by national recruting guru Clark Francis of HoopScoop Magazine.

• Hundreds of coaches and scouts at every level use this venue for recruiting. Here are some of the top NCAA Division I coaches that have attended past tournaments.
  • Roy Williams
  • Mike Krzyzewski
  • John Calipari
• Many other top NBA celebrities have attended past tournaments including:
  • Larry Bird – NBA Hall of Fame Member
  • Doc Rivers – Head Coach of the Los Angeles Clippers
  • Donnie Walsh – Former President of Basketball Ops for the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers