Since the inception of the inaugural Palmetto Cup in 1993, the tournament has evolved into the premier in-season high school boys tournament in the Southeast. The 2018 edition of the NIKE Palmetto Cup will feature 16-24 teams.
The NIKE Palmetto Cup was founded by Kevin Heise and Kyle Heise in 1993 when they coached at Brookland-Cayce High School. The first tournament was played at Airport High School's District (Eagle) Stadium and featured just four teams - B-C, Dutch Fork, Mauldin, and South Florence.
Having attracted teams from Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming, the NIKE Palmetto Cup is recognized as one of the top prep boys soccer tournaments in the nation and was named "The Southeast's Premier Boys High School Soccer Tournament" by StudentSports.com. The tourney is utilized as an annual barometer for the TopDrawerSoccer.com and NSCAA ranking committees.
The tournament has undergone numerous changes in the 30-year history as it started as: the Brookland-Cayce Classic in 1993; and then was titled the Spring Break Shootout from 1994-97; before changing to the Palmetto State Spring Break Shootout; while the 2002 event ushered in a change to the Palmetto Cup to reflect the diversity of teams competing. In 2012, the tourney officially became recognized as the NIKE Palmetto Cup due to our outstanding sponsorship from the flagship athletic apparel company.
Since 2018, the NPC has been held at the beautiful Saluda Shoals Complex off St. Andrews Road.
Annually, the NIKE Palmetto Cup attracts outstanding crowds, collegiate coaches from NCAA Division I and II, NAIA, and JUCO programs, and more importantly serves as a great testimony to high school soccer. Known for its competitive and wide-open "Cup" matches, the atmosphere of this event is unparalleled in South Carolina prep soccer.
The NIKE Palmetto Cup was founded by Kevin Heise and Kyle Heise in 1993 when they coached at Brookland-Cayce High School. The first tournament was played at Airport High School's District (Eagle) Stadium and featured just four teams - B-C, Dutch Fork, Mauldin, and South Florence.
Having attracted teams from Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming, the NIKE Palmetto Cup is recognized as one of the top prep boys soccer tournaments in the nation and was named "The Southeast's Premier Boys High School Soccer Tournament" by StudentSports.com. The tourney is utilized as an annual barometer for the TopDrawerSoccer.com and NSCAA ranking committees.
The tournament has undergone numerous changes in the 30-year history as it started as: the Brookland-Cayce Classic in 1993; and then was titled the Spring Break Shootout from 1994-97; before changing to the Palmetto State Spring Break Shootout; while the 2002 event ushered in a change to the Palmetto Cup to reflect the diversity of teams competing. In 2012, the tourney officially became recognized as the NIKE Palmetto Cup due to our outstanding sponsorship from the flagship athletic apparel company.
Since 2018, the NPC has been held at the beautiful Saluda Shoals Complex off St. Andrews Road.
Annually, the NIKE Palmetto Cup attracts outstanding crowds, collegiate coaches from NCAA Division I and II, NAIA, and JUCO programs, and more importantly serves as a great testimony to high school soccer. Known for its competitive and wide-open "Cup" matches, the atmosphere of this event is unparalleled in South Carolina prep soccer.
