The bad news is former junior Tall Black Tom Rowe is taking a season off to try his hand at rugby.
Basketball Otago general manager Markham Brown delivered the mixed news yesterday.
"I think you'll find these guys will start to make an impact based on the experience they have now and also the opportunity the will get next year with the way the team is stacking up," Brown said.
"We are investing more in them and it is their time to shine."
Ross got his start with the Nuggets in 2008 under coach Don Sims and has continued to show steady improvement. He adds a lot of spark from the bench and enthusiasm on defence.
Buckrell is in his third year with the Nuggets. The former junior Tall Black has a touch of class but is yet to really deliver on his potential.
And King was part of a golden generation of basketballers, which included Rowe and Morgan Nathan, who emerged from Otago Boys' High School three years ago. They were named in the national side which contested the world under-19 championships in 2009. Buckrell was also in that squad.
"We definitely think that they will be key members of the team next year," Brown said.
"We saw good things from those guys at times last year and in the club competition and the summer league. You can see their confidence is growing and they are being more assertive which is what they need to do at that level.
"They have the skills, ability and fitness. They just have to have more of a crack and I think they are ready to do that now."
Rowe's loss is a blow for the franchise but Brown has not given up on the 20-year-old.
"He is looking to have a year playing rugby. I guess he has been pretty focused on basketball for a number of years and felt he was ready to try something different.
"We hope we haven't lost him to the sport. He was in the same boat as the others and would have been looking to have a big year [in basketball]."
Ross, Buckrell and King join Tall Blacks Mark Dickel, BJ Anthony and Leon Henry as confirmed players for 2012.
Development players such as Ollie Smith, Damon Cleverley and Ethan Carruthers will compete for spots on the bench alongside Matt Trueman and Hayden Miller.
Last year's captain, Sam To'omata, has fallen off the radar and Mark Morrison is heading overseas.
The Nuggets expect to make a decision regarding overseas players next month but will be in the market for a centre and a quality shooting guard.
