It doesn’t get much more competitive when it comes to elite level HS hoops than the annual City of Palms Classic. In past years, the tournament has helped showcase some of the nation’s top recruits like John Wall and Austin Rivers in front of a national audience on ESPN.
This year’s event was no different as Top 100 rated players like Julius Randle, Xavier Johnson, and even the nation’s top ranked player Shabazz Muhammad were in action. While Randle’s Prestonwood Christian Academy squad took home the 2011 Championship, one of the highlights of the event came during the 5th place game between Muhammad’s Bishop Gorman HS and Johnson’s Mater Dei squads.
Even though Muhammad was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points in a losing effort, what University of Colorado commit, and ESPN Sportscenter regular, Xavier Johnson did to the nation’s most sought after recruit was what everyone was talking about afterwards.
After Johnson sealed a win for Mater Dei with a thunderous slam off of a fast break he decided to blow a kiss directed right at Muhammad, sending a message that the game was out of reach. Surprisingly no technical was called for taunting.
Muhammad may eventually get the last laugh as the senior remains uncommitted about his college plans beyond this season but is reportedly deciding between legendary programs UCLA, Duke, and Kentucky.
Xavier Johnsons Blows a Kiss To Shabazz Muhammad:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
