College wins back national hoops event

FORT MYERS — Florida SouthWestern State College will host the Culligan City of Palms Classic in late 2016, one of the nation's top high school basketball tournaments.

The basketball tournament, held in December, draws hundreds of the nation's top high school basketball prospects. The college will host the tournament in the Suncoast Credit Union Arena, a 3,300-seat arena now under construction on the college's Fort Myers campus.

“Hundreds of these players have gone on to Division I teams and the NBA,” says FSW President Jeff Allbritten, in a statement. “It speaks volumes for the organizers of this event because of the caliber of teams that compete, and that such nationally recognized coaches and players like Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird and Doc Rivers have attended.”

Classic Basketball, a nonprofit that acts as a foundation for the tournament, covers all expenses for the players. More than 530 Culligan City of Palms players have advanced to NCAA Division I competition, with more than 60 advancing to play professionally in the NBA. Hundreds of coaches and scouts at every level use this venue for recruiting.

The college, formerly known as Edison Community College, has hosted the event in the past, from 1990 to 1993 and from 1973 to 1983. Since then, it has been held at nearby Bishop Verot Catholic High School.