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NCAA rules will keep college basketball coaches away from the talent-laden Arizona Cactus Classic this weekend.

A lack of natural rooting interests, springtime diversions and other sporting events may keep fans away, too.

But Jim Storey hopes they don't.

Storey, who runs the recruiting-oriented http://goazcats.com Web site, has put together a second annual AAU tournament that is scheduled to bring 23 of the nation's top 100 players in the high school class of 2008 to Tucson. There are also 12 Top 100 players from 2009, as well as a handful of 2010 and 2011 stars, too.

"I really hope people come out," Storey said. "Make it a family weekend. Come watch a lot of great basketball with the future stars of tomorrow. The games are going to be really competitive."

Despite charging only $10 for the entire weekend, the inaugural Cactus Classic last spring drew about a hundred fans to the bigger games.

Many had only a handful watching, and Storey said Thursday he has no idea if more people will show up this time.

The only thing for certain is the scouting services, which provide information to coaches and fans, will be on hand. Storey said he has issued 20 national scouting credentials to analysts such as Van Coleman of Hoopmasters, Dave Telep of Scout.com, and Justin Young and Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com.

"It's like Costco for us," Young said. "It's one-stop shopping."

The Atlanta-based Young said he was attracted to the event because virtually all of the top Western AAU teams are participating, including Tucson-based Sporting Chance. The event also has teams from Texas, Wisconsin and New York.

Teams sponsored by NBA players such as Tracy McGrady (the T-Mac All-Stars), Lamar Odom (Lamar Odom I-CAN All-Stars) and Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson (Arizona Stars) also will participate.

Since there are only 32 teams, most of which are well-regarded, the competition should be stiff, too.

"The thing that makes this event so neat is that it's not going to be watered down," Telep said. "Even the pool play should be extremely competitive. Some of the (big) tournaments … in the spring don't give you that."

But even that might not ultimately be enough to bring out the crowds. Both Young and Telep said even the best AAU tournaments struggle to attract fans who aren't hardcore recruiting zealots.

"AAU is a tough sell. It's never been a big-ticket item," Telep said. "At tournaments around the country, you're rarely getting 1,000 or 2,000 fans. You're at the point of the year when the average college basketball fan is enjoying the weather and the weekend. Only the junkie comes out in force."