The 53rd Annual City of Palms Classic revealed its 28-team list earlier in the day. Here is when each team is slated to play in the prestigious event:
By: Southeast Hoops Report
FORT MYERS, Fla.– We are just three months away from one of the nation’s prestigious tournaments making a return to the Suncoast Credit Union Arena, on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College. This year’s field of teams comes from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
Here Is The Game-by-Game Schedule
Friday, December 18 (5 Games)
1:30 p.m.- Game 1: Cape Coral (FL) vs. Palmetto Ridge (FL)– City of Palms Tip-Off
3:30 p.m.- Game 2: St. Frances Academy (MD) vs. Providence (FL)– Traditional Bracket
5:15 p.m.- Game 3: Thomas Jefferson (NY) vs. Calvary Christian Academy (FL)– Traditional Bracket
7:00 p.m.- Game 4: Greensboro Day School (NC) vs. Lehigh (FL)– Traditional Bracket
8:45 p.m.- Game 5: Fleming Island (FL) vs. Montverde Academy (FL)– Traditional Bracket
Saturday, December 19 (7 Games)
10:30 a.m.- Game 6: Game 2 Loser (SFA/Providence) vs. Game 4 Loser (Greensboro Day/Lehigh)- Consolation Game
12:15 p.m.- Game 7: La Lumiere (IN) vs. Sarasota (FL)– Traditional Bracket
2:00 p.m.- Game 8: Riviera Prep (FL) vs. Bartlett (TN)– Traditional Bracket
3:45 p.m.- Game 9: Coatesville (PA) vs. Boca Ciega (FL)– Sunshine Series Bracket
5:30 p.m.- Game 10: Madison-Ridgeland (MS) vs. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (GA)– Sunshine Series Bracket
7:15 p.m.- Game 11: Millennium (AZ) vs. Christopher Columbus (FL)– Traditional Bracket
9:00 p.m.- Game 12: Carter (TX) vs. IMG Academy (FL)– Traditional Bracket
Sunday, December 20 (5 Games)
11:00 a.m.- Game 13: Game 3 Loser (Thomas Jefferson/Calvary) vs. Game 5 Loser (Montverde/Fleming Island)- Consolation Game
12:45 p.m.- Game 14: Game 11 Loser (Millennium/Columbus Loser) vs. Game 7 Loser (La Lumiere/Sarasota)- Consolation Game
2:30 p.m.- Game 15: Game 3 Winner (Thomas Jefferson/Calvary) vs. Game 4 Winner (Greensboro Day/Lehigh)- Quarterfinal #1
4:15 p.m.- Game 16: Game 5 Winner (Montverde/Fleming Island) vs. Game 2 Winner (SFA/Providence)- Quarterfinal #2
6:20 p.m.- 3-Point Shootout
7:00 p.m.- Slam Dunk Contest
8:20 p.m.- Game 17: Aubrey Rogers (FL) vs. Bishop Verot (FL)– Hugh Thimlar Tribute Game
Monday, December 21 (7 Games)
10:30 a.m.- Game 18: Game 12 Loser (Carter/IMG Academy) vs. Game 8 Loser (Bartlett/Riviera Prep)- Consolation Game
12:10 p.m.- Game 19: Game 10 Loser (Madison-Ridgeland/Eagle’s Landing) vs. Game 9 Loser (Coatesville/Boca Ciega)- Sunshine Series 3rd Place Game
1:50 p.m.- Game 20: Game 10 Winner (Madison-Ridgeland/Eagle’s Landing) vs. Game 9 Winner (Coatesville/Boca Ciega)- Sunshine Series Championship Game
3:30 p.m.- Game 21: Game 11 Winner (Millennium/Columbus) vs. Game 7 Winner (La Lumiere/Sarasota)- Quarterfinal
5:15 p.m.- Game 22: Dynamic Prep (TX) vs. Prolific Prep (FL)– Sunshine Series Semifinal #1
7:00 p.m.- Game 23: SPIRE Academy (OH) vs. Southeastern Prep Academy (FL)– Sunshine Series Semifinal #2
8:45 p.m.- Game 24: Game 8 Winner (Riviera Prep/Bartlett) vs. Game 12 Winner (Carter/IMG Academy)- Quarterfinal
Tuesday, December 22 (7 Games)
10:00 a.m.- Game 25: Challenge Round Game (0-2 Team vs. 0-2 Team)- Consolation Game
11:40 a.m.- Game 26: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 13 Winner- Consolation Semifinal
1:20 p.m.- Game 27: Game 14 Winner vs. Game 18 Winner- Consolation Semifinal
3:00 p.m.- Game 28: Game 16 Loser vs. Game 15 Loser- 5th Place Semifinal
4:40 p.m.- Game 29: Game 21 Loser vs. Game 24 Loser- 5th Place Semifinal
7:00 p.m.- Game 30: Game 16 Winner vs. Game 15 Winner- Semifinal #1
9:00 p.m.- Game 31: Game 21 Winner vs. Game 24 Winner- Semifinal #2
Wednesday, December 23 (7 Games)
9:30 a.m.- Game 32: Challenge Round (0-2 Team vs. 0-2 Team)- Consolation Game
11:10 a.m.- Game 33: Game 26 Winner vs. Game 27 Winner- Consolation Championship
12:50 p.m.- Game 34: Game 28 Winner vs. Game 29 Winner- 5th Place Game
2:30 p.m.- Game 35: Game 23 Loser vs. Game 22 Loser- Signature Series 3rd Place Game
4:15 p.m.- Game 36: Game 31 Loser vs. Game 30 Loser- 3rd Place Game
7:00 p.m.- Game 37: Game 22 Winner vs. Game 23 Winner- Signature Series Championship Game
9:00 p.m.- Game 38: Game 30 Winner vs. Game 31 Winner- Championship Game
*Games in Italics are nationally televised*
About the City of Palms Classic
In December 1973, the City of Palms Classic began, like so many events, as a simple, local Christmas basketball tournament — the brainchild of legendary Edison Community College head coach Hugh Thimlar and a small group of high school coaches and administrators. Over the years, the “City of Palms Classic” (named by Donnie Wilkie in 1987) has grown and expanded its scope to include many of the nation’s finest players and teams, setting the standard during the past four decades by which all other holiday basketball tournaments are compared.
For Southeast Region Basketball News and Information, please visit https://sehoopsreport.com/, follow us on our social media platforms (SEHoopsReport on Facebook), SEHoopsReport on Instagram, and @SEHoopsReport on X)
Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast Region Scout for On The Radar Hoops since 2024 and has been the Owner/Founder of Southeast Hoops Report since June 2026. You can follow along with his work on X (@SEHoopsReport), Instagram (sehoopsreport), and Facebook (@sehoopsreport).