Culligan City of Palms Classic unveils 2018 tournament lineup
The field for the 46th annual Culligan City of Palms Classic presented by Enterprise is set and it’s once again filled with stars. The tournament is set to take place from Monday, Dec. 17 – Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW).
Elite teams from as far away as Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. will be in Southwest Florida for this annual holiday tradition. Some of the top teams in the main draw include: defending Culligan City of Palms Classic champion and Class 5A Florida state champion University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), former national champion; Olive Branch (Olive Branch, Miss.), Class 5A Mississippi state champion; and Mountain Brook (Mountain Brook, Ala.), Class 7A Alabama state champion. For a complete list of the teams go to: cityofpalmsclassic.com/teams/.
Additionally, six of the top 25 seniors in the nation will participate in this year’s tournament, including: ESPN No. 2 player in the Class of 2019, Cole Anthony (Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.); ESPN No. 3 player in the Class of 2019 Vernon Carey, Jr. (University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); ESPN No. 8 player in the Class of 2019 Josh Green (IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.); ESPN No. 17 player in the Class of 2019 Armando Bacot (IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.); ESPN No. 21 D.J. Jeffries (Olive Branch High School, Olive Branch, Miss.); and ESPN No. 23 Trendon Watford (Mountain Brook High School, Mountain Brook, Ala.).
Culligan returns for its sixth year as Title Sponsor, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Presenting Sponsor for the fifth year.
Tickets for the tournament are now on sale. Several ticket options are available, including:
1. The 6-day Preferred Ticket Package. A single-seat six-day ticket package for $260 including the processing fee with seating in the first two rows directly behind the team benches and scorer’s table (west side of the arena) or the opposite first and second rows (east side).
2. The 6-day Reserved Ticket Package. A single-seat six-day ticket package for $138 including the processing fee for the remaining courtside seating (east and west sides of the arena).
3. VIP Parking. A six-day Parking Pass in the parking lot closest to the arena for $65 including the processing fee.
4. General Admission. Single day tickets are available in sections 101, 102, 103, 111, and 113. A single day General Admission ticket for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 is $17 including the processing fee. Tickets for days 5 and 6 are $22 including the processing fee.
For more information and to purchase tickets, call the box office Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at (800) 440-7469 or (239) 481-4849. Single day reserve tickets will be available later this fall.
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. For many of the players, the tournament represents their first opportunity to travel outside their own city.
Since 1989, 155 Culligan City of Palms Classic players have been named McDonald’s All-Americans and 116 have been drafted by the NBA, including 71 first-round picks.
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.
