The epicenter of the high school basketball world will convene once again this weekend at Bishop Verot High School as the City of Palms Classic takes center stage. Last year, such stars like Ben Simmons, Harry Giles and Jaylen Brown all suited up and this year things remain enticing as some of the top prospects throughout the land will go toe-to-toe on the hardwood. The HoopSeen squad will be out covering the high profile event but before we do, let’s look at what we are looking for during our short stay within the Sunshine State.

SIGNED SENIORS CAN BOLSTER THEIR STOCK

While these next few days in Fort Myers will allow for greater eyes to be placed on some of the relative unknowns throughout the nation, it will be proving grounds for other seniors who will be hoping to solidify their standing as the best of the best. Where the McDonald’s All-American game is still the go-to all-star event, this weekend could go a long ways towards helping those in attendance in grabbing a roster spot for the annual classic in April.

Jayson Tatum, a 6-foot-8 wing-forward type from Chaminade College Prep, has all but secured his standing as one of the best in America and it will be interesting to see how far he can take his loaded bunch in defeating some of the best high school programs nationally; his spot is there waiting for him for the burger game.

Lonzo Ball, a 6-foot-6 point guard, is one of the best passers that the amateur ranks has seen for some time now and with his two younger brothers backing him, the entertainment value sure isn’t lacking out of the Chino Hills crew from California.

Bam Adebayo is one of the most lethal finishers in the land and now suiting up for the High Point Christian bunch, the future Kentucky Wildcat should also have a pretty solid shot in playing at the McDonald’s All-American Game in a few months; fans should expect fireworks from the Carolina native through his ferocious dunks and unlimited energy levels.

Where the real debate comes into play is in the frontcourt. Udoka Azubuike, a man amongst boys within the interior and one of the best available prospects within the 2016 ranks, will hope to solidify his spot as an elite big man suiting up for the Potter’s House Christian program.

Dewan Huell, a 6-foot-9 center out of Norland High and remaining within his city and playing at Miami next year, has an outside shot at the annual classic being held in Chicago. He will be fighting a similar battle as 6-foot-9 center and a UNC signee in Tony Bradley. Both bigs are on the cusp of receiving the nod for the game and it will be entertaining to see the type of production that they unload on the playing floor at Bishop Verot High.

NOTHING TO LAUGH AT WITH THESE JUNIORS

Sure, there is a bevy of elite senior talent on display, but the crop of juniors is nothing to laugh at either, led by a few top-10 prospects nationally.

Tampa Catholic will take the short trip southward along the coast and with it, Kevin Knox will have the chance to show just how much he has developed since most of the nation last saw him back in July. UNC and Duke recently offered the quickly improving and tremendously talented Sunshine State native.

Mohamed Bamba, a 6-foot-10 big man with unreal length as he sports a 7-foot-8 wingspan, suits up for Westtown, and a school based out of southeastern Pennsylvania. Does anyone have greater upside suiting up this weekend? That will definitely be up for debate up until he takes the floor on Sunday afternoon. Teaming up with the elite big man is Brandon Randolph, a 6-foot-6 wing who is due to blow up as the lanky wing brings a ton of versatility and shot making skills to the perimeter.

Chaundee Brown reeled in a UConn offer last week along with his First Academy teammate Malik William. Little is known nationally about both but with a few solid showing in the coming days, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a lot more of the high-major programs nationally jump on board with any of the duo.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and his cousin and recently committed Florida guard, Shai Alexander, will take to the hardwood alongside Mississippi State commit Abdul Ado. The trio is bunch of very talented prospects and while Alexander-Walker is the only one not committed to a school just yet, they are definitely a couple of ballplayers to watch from out of the Hamilton Heights program.

Father Tolton from Missouri brings in elite wing and 5-star prospect Michael Porter. With ideal size at 6-foot-8 but a perimeter based ballplayer, the upside and talent base from the smooth scorer of the ball is as good as it gets. Washington, Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke are those involved for him and right there with him is his brother and 2018 University of Washington commit Jontay Porter.

Another group of brothers hits the floor at the City of Palms Classic and again, the younger sibling is already committed. Kaleb Wesson, a big bodied center from Ohio, has already pledged his allegiance to the in-state Buckeyes program. Andre is a senior wing who was recently offered by Richmond and could use the heightened platform to grab a few more this week.

An elite big man already committed to Auburn is Austin Wiley. The big fella out of Spain Park High School has been out for some time now because of knee injuries and this weekend will be a great shot for the national media in getting a glance at what the high level rebounder looks like. Joining him from the guard spot is Jamal Johnson, a well-rounded combo type who is hearing from a bevy of SEC, Big 12, and CUSA programs.

The Patrick School is led by Harvard bound Bryce Aiken but it is junior big man Nick Richards that boasts the greatest amount of talent. Kentucky, Louisville, and many others are pursuing the 6-foot-10 junior who competes with a mean streak and sets the tone within the paint.

Three others to track throughout the weekend include Wheeler High’s Darius Perry, an explosive combo guard who can score the ball in bunches and brings loads of toughness to the backcourt. Along with him is St. Petersburg High wing and a shot maker from off the perimeter in Darius Banks, who holds offers from programs such as Virginia Tech and UCF. Lastly, a major breakout from this past summer who seems to take the big stage by storm is Wellington High product Trent Frazier, who is an excellent playmaker in the backcourt and can really score it whenever he is feeling it.

WHO WINS?

We went down the gauntlet of who are the guys to track throughout the weekend without even giving a nod to the mighty Montverde program. There isn’t a lot of upperclassmen talent at hand outside of Ohio State signee Micah Potter and Butler signee Howard Washington, but the younger crop is absurdly good. Showcasing Simi Shittu, Silvio De Sousa, EJ Montgomery, and RJ Barrett, the Florida based program is still elite when it comes to talent level and where some may have more experience, not many have as much potential.

Kevin Boyle and his bunch definitely has a chance to cut down the nets and so do such others as The Patrick School, Chino Hills, High Point Christian, and Wesleyan Christian, but my money is on the Chaminade College Prep bunch.

I like the Missouri-based program matched up with High Point Christian in the finals, which would be a great matchup between Iowa signee Tyler Cook and Kentucky signee Bam Adebayo within the interior and an under the radar matchup between Duquesne signee Mike Lewis and Boston College signee Ty Graves in the backcourt. However, just like last year where future Duke star Harry Giles led his WCA crew to the championship, it will be another future Duke forward, Jayson Tatum, who will put the alma mater of the likes of Brad Beal and David Lee into the finals and the winners of the 2015 City of Palms Classic on Wednesday evening.