The Central Scouting Bureau recently came out with its final ratings of North America players.

Based on them, up to four state players could be taken in the first round of the NHL draft in late June.

The highest rated Minnesota players were:

No. 9 Defenseman Derek Forbort, 6-4 1/2, 198. He is playing for the U.S. national development program. He has signed with North Dakota.

No. 13. Center Nick Bjugstad, 6-3 3/4, 188. He played for Blaine in the Class 2A state tournament. He is playing doubles on the Bengals' tennis team.

No. 18. Center Tyler Pitlick, 6-1 1/2, 194. He was a freshman for Minnesota State Mankato, but rumors are rampant he will turn pro this offseason.

No. 25. Center Brock Nelson, 6-2 1/2, 205. He played for Warroad in the Class 1A state tournament. He, too, has signed with North Dakota. ... He could easily slip to second round because there are so many Europeans and Russians who could be taken high.

These four are among the 100 players invited to the NHL Combine in Toronto from May 24-29 along with five other Minnesotans:

No. 37 Defenseman Mark Alt, 6-3, 199. He was a two-sport standout at Cretin-Derham Hall. He led the football team to the Class 5A state title as its quarterback. Will sign soon with Gophers.

No. 47. Defenseman Justin Holl, 6-2 1/4, 170. He played for Minnetonka in high school, but after the Skippers' season ended joined the Omaha Lancers. He has 1 goal and 5 assists for six points in 14 games, three in the playoffs. Signed with Gophers.

No. 49. Center Max Gardiner, 6-2 1/2, 175. He played for Skippers, too. Signed with Gophers.

No. 56. Defenseman Justin Faulk, 5-11 3/4, 195. He is playing for U.S. national development program. He has signed with UMD.

Goalies

No. 6. Zane Gothberg, 6-0 1/2, 175. Played for Thief River Falls in high school. Signed with North Dakota.

MORE PROSPECTS

Six other state players also rated in the top 205:

118. Defenseman Joe Faust, 5-10 1/2, 190. The Bloomington Jefferson player has committed to Princeton.

166. Right wing Christian Isackson, 5-11 3/4, 175. St. Thomas Academy player has committed to Gophers.

182. Defenseman Chris Casto, 6-0 1/2, 200. Hill-Murray player who has committed to UMD.

187. Right wing Tyson Fulton, 5-11, 190. Breck player committed to Union College.

198. Center Garrett Hendrickson, 6-0 1/2, 165. Virginia player, only a junior, who has committed to St. Cloud State.

205. Defenseman Andrew Prochno, 5-9 3/4, 170. Another Tonka d-man. Has committed to St. Cloud State.

One other name in the mix:

Goalies

14. Joel Vienneau, 6-2 3/4. 187. He plays for Kingston in the OJAHL. Has narrowed college choices down to U and Michigan for 2011-12.

* Forwards Seth Ambroz and Erik Haula of Omaha signed with the Gophers last November as did defenseman Nate Schmidt of Fargo and two Minnetonka high school players, Holl and Gardiner.

YOUNGEST U RECRUITS

Two other players, who will not come to the U until at least 2011-12, are also doing well in the USHL.

Sam Warning, who turns 18 on Sept. 29, has 9 goals and 10 assists for 19 points for Cedar Rapids in 55 games. He is a plus-6. Warning is 5-8, 173. The RoughRiders are in the UHSL playoffs after finishing second in the East Divsion.

Warning is from suburban St. Louis.

Travis Boyd, who played for Hopkins High last season, is among the top scorers for the under-17 U.S. national development team. Through April 2, Boyd had 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points, putting him sixth on the team, He is 5-10, 168.