Zion Williamson, one of the top players in the Class of 2018, poured in a tournament-record 53 points at the Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia, S.C. Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-6 Williamson shot 24 of 24 inside the three-point line and 25-of-28 overall as his Spartanburg (S.C.) Day beat Columbia (S.C.) Gray Collegiate, 73-53.
“I just wanted to come out and get the win,” Williamson told USA Today. “It didn’t matter how many points I scored. That’s the only thing I focused on tonight.”
Zion Williamson putting defenders in the spin cycle. @CFAClassic #cfaclassic pic.twitter.com/qTD8SAEUc1
— Jason Jordan (@JayJayUSATODAY) December 21, 2016
BARRETT DROPS 30 TO LEAD MONTVERDE TO CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC FINAL
Sophomore guard R.J. Barrett went for 30 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as Montverde (FL) Academy beat IMG Academy (FL), 70-66, to advance to the City of Palms Classic championship game on Wednesday night.
Always count on @ball6islife to throw down ? @MVABasketball @CityOfPalmsBKB #CityofPalms pic.twitter.com/Sz1YHZG6xC
— Overtime (@overtime) December 21, 2016
Fellow sophomore Andrew Nembhard had 10 points and 4 assists in the win.
Trevon Duval, the uncommitted Class of 2017 point guard, shot 5-of-12 for for 10 points with 6 assists and 7 turnovers in the loss. Duval is considering Kansas, Duke, Arizona, Baylor and Seton Hall.
Montverde will face Memphis (TN) East in Wednesday’s championship after the Mustangs took out The Patrick School (N.J.), 74-61, in the second semifinal.
T.J. Moss led all scorers with 17 points, while Chandler Lawson, the younger brother of Memphis stars Dedric and K.J. Lawson, had 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Monmouth-bound guard Marcus McClary led the Celtics with 15 points, Minnesota signee Jamir Harris scored 13 and Kentucky-bound big man Nick Richards added 10 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks.
The loss by The Patrick School means Montverde coach Kevin Boyle won’t face his former team for the championship. Boyle led St. Patrick’s, as it was then known, to five New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles before leaving for Montverde in 2011.
.@iamnickrichards with the putback❗️@patrickschool #CityofPalms pic.twitter.com/zNPYErNd9B
— CityofPalmsClassic (@CityOfPalmsBKB) December 21, 2016