The City of Palms Classic is always a must stop along the way during the high school season. The event annually brings in some of the best talent nationally and into an unbelievable atmosphere within the gymnasium at Bishop Verot High School. We knew coming in that Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum, and Lonzo Ball would stand out, but what we didn’t know was who might breakout as prospects like Therren Szmidt, AJ Caldwell, and Justin Brown furthered their stock during their short stay in Fort Myers.

THERREN SZMIDT, SG, HAMILTON HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, 2017: Szmidt was a slight breakout this past summer running with the UPlay-Stackhouse Elite bunch and the Canadian used the giant platform that the City of Palms allotted over the weekend in a variety of ways. First off, Szmidt has grown over an inch since July and has packed on a few pounds which allows for him to produce more frequently whenever his defender may try and get a little physical with him. However, where Szmidt really excels is in making jump shots. Sure, he didn’t hit as many as he might have liked throughout the event but the mechanics and elevation on all of his jump shots are pristine. He can pull up immediately and get his shot off over taller defenders and can run off stagger screens in nailing the perimeter jump shot. With a few offers in hand from the likes of Duquesne, St. Bonaventure’s, and MTSU, expect Szmidt’s name to blow up this summer due to his elite level jumper and added size off the ball.

AJ CALDWELL, SG, RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, 2017: Just like Szmidt, Caldwell also displays a pretty jumper that he can convert on off of two-dribble pull-ups and on spot up situations from off the catch from deep. He isn’t the fastest of guys around and must show that he can defend his ground out on the perimeter, but when it comes to finding a guy that can make jumpers from the 15-foot region on out and with good size at the 2-guard spot, Caldwell clearly brings these to the table. The native of Buffalo, New York, the now Florida inhabitant sports quality grades in the classroom with a few offers from programs from the northeast with one coming from the Virginia Tech Hokies program. Running with the Florida Sons bunch on the travel circuit, Caldwell should see an uptick with his recruitment once the travel circuit begins for the junior guard out of Riverside High.

JUSTIN BROWN, SG/SF, SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL, 2016: All off the buzz surrounding the Spain Park bunch out of Alabama surrounds Auburn commit Austin Wiley and junior guard Jamal Johnson. However, it is Brown that is the stir to the pot for the winning squad due to his versatile defensive skills and excellent toughness which allows for him to guard all three spots on the perimeter. The lefty wing can play either spot in the backcourt off the basketball and showcases a clean looking jumper that he can hit with consistency out to 17-feet. The senior wing can create for others off the deck near the basket which gives a guy like Wiley easy looks at the rim for the two-handed hammer jam. Throw in the quality grades that Brown brings to the table and it’s a bit surprising seeing that when asked on his recruitment, the primary programs pursuing him include UCF, Furman, and Austin Peay, the latter program he will be visiting next weekend.

AL-WAJID AMINU, F, WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL, 2016: The youngest Aminu brother, whose older sibling is currently starring for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA, this senior forward was a nice breakout forward during his stay in Florida. The Wheeler High product won’t ever stand out with his numbers on the scoreboard but where he does excel is in filling whatever shoes that are left for him by the coaching staff at the powerhouse Peach State program. Already committed to North Florida in planning to suit up for Matt Driscoll next college basketball season, Aminu is capable of defending the 2-4 within the half-court setting and also scoring the ball with efficiency from 15-feet and in on the other end of the floor. Aminu plays with no ego and in his team’s loss to the mighty Chaminade squad out of Missouri, the 6-foot-6 senior made all five of his shot attempts from the floor in 25 minutes of action but it was his willingness to complete the miscellaneous that should enable for him to be an immediate energy producer next year for the Ospreys.