The 2024 NBA Draft's first round was held on Wednesday night, and as is true every year, plenty of City of Palms Classic alumni heard their names called by Commissioner Adam Silver.
Eight players added their names to the tournament's list of 202 past participants to be selected by an NBA team since 1982. Here are the players who were taken in the first round and a look at when they took the court in Fort Myers as high school stars.
Last Year:Montverde captures sixth City of Palms Classic with 73-59 win over Long Island Lutheran
Reed Sheppard
Pick: 3rd
Team: Houston Rockets
College: Kentucky
The one-and-done Kentucky guard was taken by a Houston squad looking to get better immediately, and he fits the bill. The McDonald's All-American was named Mr. Kentucky Basketball and played at the same college that both his parents played basketball at. Sheppard shined in the 2022 City of Palms for North Laurel, including a dominant outing in a win against Charlotte that saw him drop 28 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
Stephon Castle
Pick: 4th Overall
Team: San Antonio Spurs
College: UConn
The Spurs are looking for ready-made guards to put alongside generational talent Victor Wembanyama and took Castle, who many believe was the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft. The 6-foot-6 guard was named the Big East Freshman of the Year and helped lead the Huskies to their second-straight National Title while being named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team along the way. Castle, a 2022 City of Palms All-Tournament pick, led Covington high school to a win over a loaded Tampa Catholic squad after falling to Lake Highland Prep in an overtime classic.
Zach Edey
Pick: 9th
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
College: Purdue
The Grizzlies wanted size to fill the void of Steven Adam's departure, and they couldn't have gone any bigger than Edey. The 7-foot-4 IMG Academy grad won back-to-back AP Player of the Year awards and led the Boilermakers to an appearance in this year's National Championship. Edey also led the Ascenders to a berth in the City of Palms Classic Championship in 2019 but fell to Montverde, one of the most heralded high school teams of all time that boasted Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Day'ron Sharpe, and Moses Moody (all of whom play in the NBA today).
Carlton 'Bub' Carrington
Pick: 14th
Team: Washington Wizards
School: Pittsburgh
The Wizards are signaling that they are entering a full rebuild mode and took a guard that can stuff the stat sheet while posting a 53 percent true-shooting percentage. He posted a triple-double in his first game as a Panther, but his St. Frances squad went 0-3 in the 2022 City of Palms tournament.
Kel'el Ware
Pick: 15th
Team: Miami Heat
School: Indiana
Pat Reilly nailed the Heat's pick yet again, this time taking a defensive 7-footer to anchor the Miami defense alongside Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. Ware was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team as a sophom*ore and was second in the conference in double-doubles (15), rebounds per game (9.9), and field goal percentage (58.6). He posted 19 points and 13 rebounds for North Little Rock in a loss to Calvary Christian in the fifth-place championship in 2021's City of Palms Classic.
Jared McCain
Pick: 16th
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
School: Duke
The Sixers got a dynamic scorer and playmaker in McCain, who will be a viable addition to the bench as Philly continues its title hunt. McCain, a one-and-done and McDonald's All-American, was named to the ACC All-Rookie and All-Academic Team. He was also named to the City of Palms' All-Tournament Team in 2022 for Centennial out of California after dropping 29 points in a win over Winter Haven.
Ja'Kobe Walter
Pick: 19th
Team: Toronto Raptors
School: Baylor
The Raptors had the fourth-worst three-point shooting percentage in the NBA last year and took a knockdown sharpshooter in Walter to help change course. Walter was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season after being named a McDonald's All-American and helping Link Academy to a Signature Series Championship in 2022.
Isaiah Collier
Pick: 29th
Team: Utah Jazz
School: Southern California
Collier slipped several spots from where he was projected but gets a fresh canvas to grow as a guard in Utah. The former No. 1 recruit in the country was named co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American game and hung 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists to lead Wheeler (Ga.) to a win against Centennial while being named to the City of Palms All-Tournament Team in 2022.
