Lakewood Ranch to participate in prestigious City of Palms tourney

After going 71-16 with Elite Eight and Final Four appearances during the last three seasons, the Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball team put itself on the map.

Now the Mustangs are reaping that reward with an invitation to a prestigious high school tournament.

On Wednesday, Lakewood Ranch was included in this year’s City of Palms tournament, which features elite competition from around the country. It is set for Dec. 18-23 in Fort Myers.

The Mustangs open the tournament with Memphis (Tenn.) East, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team coached by former Orlando Magic player Penny Hardaway.

“Our kids have been in big games and played tough opponents,” Lakewood Ranch head coach Jeremy Schiller said. “This will probably be the toughest. That’s fine to say. But I am excited to see how tough we are. I am excited how we respond to the adversity of the game. Our guys are going to be excited for it. We’re not going to back down from anybody. It’s a cool opportunity.”

After tournament director Donnie Wilkie asked Schiller about playing in the tournament, Schiller asked each of his three seniors individually what they thought.

“One hundred percent were in,” Schiller said. “I knew they would be. But I felt like it’s their year. I tell them all the time we built this program, we’re all in this together. But when it comes down to this season, it’s the seniors’ year.”

Schiller said there was zero hesitation from seniors Damien Gordon, Evan Spiller and Jack Kelley about playing in a tournament that’s arguably the best in the country.

“Really excited, because this opportunity doesn’t come ever for a high school like this that wasn’t known and now we are for basketball,” Gordon said.

This story was originally published November 8, 2017 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch to participate in prestigious City of Palms tourney."