The Nike Hoops Summit which is set to take place at the Rose Garden on April 12, is billed as a chance to see “tomorrow’s NBA stars.” And that’s true, as 52 Hoop Summit participants have appeared on NBA rosters this season. That’s an average of almost two participants per NBA team. It’s a certainty that many of the players, both American and International, who will take to the floor during the Nike Hoops Summit this year will, at some point, play in the NBA. But between now and then, most will make appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Take last year’s USA Junior Select Team starting squad, for example.

Kyle Singler started at small forward, and now he’s playing for the recently upset Duke Blue Devils.

Kevin Love, the pride of Lake Oswego, is leading the UCLA Bruins through the tourney and is a likely candidate for the tournament MVP. Through the first two games of the NCAA’s, Love is averaging 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, 5.5 blocks, 2 assists and a steal.

Michael Beasley, a double-double machine whose Kansas State Wildcats lost in the second round to Wisconsin, held down starting power forward duties for the USA Junior Select Team. He averaged 23 points and 12 boards in the tournament.

Derrick Rose, the floor general of the still alive Memphis Tigers, and O.J. Mayo, the best player on a USC team beat by Beasley’s Wildcats, represented the United States at the guard positions.

They also had Jerryd Bayless, the nearly unstoppable guard out of Arizona, coming off the bench. That’s an embarrassment of riches on the U.S.A. side.

What do all those players have in common, besides holding prominent roles on NCAA Tournament teams? They’re all future first-round picks.

Further more, if and when these players declare for the NBA draft, they’re all likely lottery picks. If Beasley comes out this year, he’s the consensus No. 1 pick. Rose, Bayless and Mayo, should they enter the draft, are all expected to go in the Top 5. Love’s stock improves with every stellar tournament game he plays, with most draft prognosticators predicting that he’ll go in the Top 10.

The players on this year’s Nike Hoop Summit roster are all but certain to make a splash in next year’s tournament as well. Four of the players, Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee, Drew Gordon and Jerime Anderson, have already signed on to play for perennial powerhouse UCLA. Center Ed Davis is signed to play for Roy Williams at North Carolina. Al-Farouq Aminu has committed to Wake Forest and Greg Monroe to Georgetown. That’s a bunch of big-time players going to big-time programs.

It’s hard to imagine a better chance to see the stars of next year’s NCAA Tournament. If your bracket for this year’s tournament is already busted, consider coming out to the Rose Garden on April 12 to do some advanced scouting for your 2009 bracket. Tickets are available through the Rose Quarter or at on the Nike Hoops Summit site.