City of Palms preview: What were watching
The City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., is consistently one of the top high school basketball events in the nation. This year is no different as a number of top prospects will hit the court Dec. 16-21. Here is a rundown of the top prospects National Recruiting Analyst Jerry Meyer is most looking forward to scouting.
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1. Kasey Hill, Clermont (Fla.) Montverde Academy
Perhaps no prospect ended the summer with more buzz than Hill. He had a sensational July and grabbed the attention of nearly every coaching staff in the country. The several times I scouted Hill, he didn't have his best games. Hopefully, this will be a venue where I can see the best that Hill has to offer.
2. Stephen Zimmerman, Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman
As a nearly 7-foot freshman playing with the No. 1-ranked senior Shabazz Muhammad, Zimmerman has garnered a great deal of attention. It will be interesting to gauge his development at this tournament as he faces some of the top high school teams in the country.
3. Jordan Mickey, Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep
While Hill had the buzz in July, Mickey has created a buzz this fall. Scouts have been raving about his development and production at some earlier high school tournaments. I'm looking forward to seeing his play in person.
4. Zach Peters, Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian Academy
It is not often that a college coach publicly questions the national ranking of one of his recruits, but that is exactly what Kansas head coach Bill Self did with Peters, citing a lack of exposure during the summer as the issue. This event provides an excellent stage for Peters to gain exposure.
5. Stanley Johnson, Santa Anna (Calif.) Mater Dei
A physical beast as a small forward, Johnson has some scouts raving about his continual skill development. He looked good when I watched him this summer, and I'm ready to see where he has taken his game to date.
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