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Darius Acuff leads IMG Academy (Fla.) past Faith Family Academy (Tex.) in 2OT at City of Palms Classic

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•12/19/24•

HunterShelton_

Syndication: The News-Press
Darius Acuff #5 of the IMG Academy reacts after hitting the game winning three against Faith Family Academy during the City of Palms Classic at Suncoast Arena on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.

Darius Acuff continues to play like the best guard in the nation.

On Thursday afternoon in Fort Myers at the City of Palms Classic, Acuff willed IMG Academy (Fla.) back from a 13-point halftime deficit against Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Texas) as the Ascenders found a way to win an 81-78 double-overtime thriller.

The five-star Arkansas signee had 38 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with just 12 seconds to go in the final period:

Acuff shot 11-15 from the floor and drained four treys while also adding six rebounds and four assists. Faith Family Academy was led by elite junior power forward Davion Adkins, who poured in 26 points and seven rebounds.

FFA took a 39-26 lead into halftime, but mustered only 25 points in the second half as Acuff, Sadiq White and Co. mounted their comeback. White had eight points, nine boards and three assists. The Eagles shot 39 percent from the field and went just 3-20 from behind the arch. Adkins was one of three in double-figures, alongside Lamont Hartfield (18) and King Grace (15).

IMG shot 57 percent from the floor and went 7-19 from deep. Acuff was the only Ascender who eclipsed 10 points on Thursday. The win improved IMG to 9-3 on the season. The Florida powerhouse ranks No. 15 in the nation and No. 4 in the Sunshine State, according to the On3 Composite Rankings.

Top performers from Day One of the City of Palms Classic can be found HERE.

The On3 Composite High School Basketball Team Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, ESPN and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.

More about the City of Palms Classic

A brief history on the City of Palms Classic from the tournament website:

“In December 1973, the City of Palms Classic began, like so many events, as a simple, local Christmas basketball tournament — the brainchild of legendary Edison Community College head coach Hugh Thimlar and a small group of high school coaches and administrators. Over the years, the “City of Palms Classic” (named by Donnie Wilkie in 1987) has grown and expanded its scope to include many of the nation’s finest players and teams, setting the standard during the past four decades by which all other holiday basketball tournaments are compared.”