There's no better way to build good publicity for a product than to link it with a good cause. Such is the case with 2K Sports and College Hoops 2K8, both of which are rather prominently tied to the start of the college basketball season and the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament that helps raise money to battle the debilitation. For the past three years, 16 teams from 16 conferences have been whittled down to just four before the championships kick off.

This year, those teams are the University of Memphis, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Connecticut and Gardner-Webb University will square off for the finals this Thursday and Friday. Given the fact that the tourney is officially dubbed the "2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting the Coaches vs. Cancer," it's not really surprising that 2K Sports is making the most of the event.

“We are very excited to be a part of such a long-standing and significant college basketball tournament,” gushed Chris Snyder, Director of Marketing for 2K Sports. “It is a privilege to put this level of competitive team basketball and superb individual talent on display, while helping to benefit the American Cancer Society by raising awareness and funding to fight cancer. We welcome the four schools to the tournament final at Madison Square Garden and wish them the best of luck.”

One more group of attendees will be receiving top honors: that of the New York State High School All-Star Team, a first for the Classic. Chosen by coaches in New York and members of the media, these high schoolers and their coaches will come together this Friday during halftime of the final game to get the props they deserve.

“These young athletes are the future of college basketball and their dedication to the sport is admirable,” sniffled Mark Goodrich, 2K Sports Product Marketing Manager for College Hoops. “2K Sports is proud to celebrate these young men and their coaches for their hard work and achievements in high school basketball.”

Here's the full list of the lucky players:

Lance Stephenson | Junior | Abraham Lincoln High School
Justin Green | Senior | Abraham Lincoln High School
Kemba Walker | Senior | Rice High School
Durand Scott | Junior | Rice High School
Chris Fouch | Senior | Rice High School
Sylvan Landesberg | Senior | Holy Cross High School
Kevin Jones | Senior | Mt. Vernon High School
Mookie Jones | Senior | Peekskill High School
Erving Walker | Senior | Christ the King Regional High School
Ryan Peason | Senior | Christ the King Regional High School
Darryl Bryant | Senior | St. Raymond High School for Boys
Omari Lawrence | Junior | St. Raymond High School for Boys
Brandon Triche | Junior | Jamesville-Dewitt High School
Kevin Phillips | Senior | Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School
Jayvaugh Pickston | Sophomore | Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School
David Imes | Senior | Boys & Girls High School
Patrick Jackson | Senior | Boys & Girls High School
Ben Cronin | Senior | Henninger High School
Dane Miller | Junior | Rush-Henrietta High School
Sean Kilpatrick | Senior | White Plains High School
Trinity Fields | Senior | Benjamin N. Cardozo High School

Good luck to the teams and congrats to the winners!