Standouts: City of Palms (Day 2)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – The 50th annual City of Palms Classic kicked off this week on the campus of Florida Southwestern College. I made it over to Lee County on Tuesday to start taking in the action.
Here is a look at the top performances I saw on Day 2.
2024 6-5 G VJ Edgecombe – Long Island Lutheran (NY)
(Pictured Above) – VJ Edgecombe is one gifted athlete who continues to improve his overall game on both ends of the floor. The 2024 6-foot-5 guard has made strides from just this summer playing with Austin Rivers Elite on the Adidas Circuit. Edgecombe shot 8-of-13 as he totaled a team-high 20 points. He hit 3-of-6 shots from long range and has a nice arc on his jumper. Edgecombe’s explosiveness and body control are always awesome to watch around the rim. With lengthy arms, he’s a threat to score anytime he has the ball in his hands. Expect him to make a decision at some point soon as he’s down to five high major college programs.
2024 6-6 G Dylan Harper – Don Bosco (NJ)
Dylan Harper is the real deal. The Rutgers commit dropped 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field in a pullaway win over McEachern. Harper is a super strong body who demands extra attention from defenses whenever he has the ball in his hands. He moves well and can handle longer defenders due to his versatility and crafty finishing ability. Harper is a seasoned player and someone who will make an instant impact as a scorer and hard-nosed defender in college next fall.
2024 6-9 G Ace Bailey – McEachern (GA)
Ace Bailey went up against his future Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper and it was quite a fun first half at the very least. With 24 points, the 2024 6-foot-9 guard is both dynamic and versatile. The length and scoring touch of Bailey is something that shines through. He did all he could in both halves to keep his team hanging around. Bailey will only get better with more strength and overall muscle to his lengthy frame.
2025 6-9 F Blake Davidson – Mater Dei
The Mater Dei ball movement was working all game long in a win over Windermere Prep. The squad works the ball around with ease and purpose. It was 2025 6-foot-9 forward Blake Davidson who stood out the most with 16 points and nine rebounds. He has a nice mid-range jumper and found his spots around the rim with assertiveness and fluidity. Davidson moves well for a player his size.
—There might not have been a better-looking pure jumper than Luke Barnett’s. The 2026 6-foot-4 guard can flat out shoot it. He totaled 15 points and was getting good looks throughout…2026 6-foot-8 forward Brannon Martinsen made an impact whether he was looking to score or not. He had 13 points and simply hit from the mid-range nicely.
2024 6-3 G Jase Richardson – Columbus
It was a slow start in the opening half, but Columbus turned it on over the final two quarters of play. A major reason for that was the play of Michigan State commit Jase Richardson. The 2024 6-foot-3 guard totaled 17 points and eight rebounds and is simply dynamic. Richardson has a nice mix of strength, smarts and pure athleticness. He can finish around the rim and as a mid-range shooter with ease.
—2025 6-foot-10 forward Cameron Boozer quietly put together a 16-point, 8-rebound game. He was super locked in defensively, slowing down just about everything that came his way down low. Boozer continues to be a beyond impressive all-around prospect whether he scores a lot or not…2026 6-foot-6 guard Jaxon Richardson got the bulk of his minutes in the second half but he was very impactful with eight points and six rebounds. You can simply see the upside with the lengthy athlete. He doesn’t play timid, that’s for sure.
2024 6-4 G Darren Williams – Archbishop Ryan
Creating tempo and smart crafty takes all game long, Darren Williams impressed me despite the late night loss to Columbus to cap off Tuesday night. The FGCU signee has a lot of speed and finishing prowess. Williams led his side with 16 points and did all he could to open up space for his teammates and good looks. He’s a sneaky good prospect.
A Must Attend: The Hoop Vibe Spring Showcase
It is not too early to lock in The Hoop Vibe Spring Showcase 2024 date into your calendar. The annual event will occur on Saturday, March 16 at Bradenton Christian School. If you are a prospect that is looking to play three high quality showcase games right after the end of the high school season, then no further than The Spring Showcase. The event will be packed with talent, media, scouts and coverage. A live stream will be brought to you by Baller TV for all the action. Info below.
Jake Perper has been a sports writer since 2010 and a basketball scout since 2015. He was the Southeast Scouting Director for the Prep Hoops Circuit and the lead scout for Prep Hoops’ Florida site for seven years. You can follow him on Twitter @thehoopvibe.