Otago Boys' has been a regular fixture at the tournament since 2007, when it finished sixth.
The following year it improved one place, and last season it was just off the podium in fourth place.
But it will have to share the limelight this year.
King's High School has also qualified, and Otago Girls' High School and St Hilda's Collegiate will contest the elite girls tournament.
Former Nugget Brent Matehaere is coaching Otago Girls' and assisting with Otago Boys'.
He felt the tournament would be a steep learning curve for Otago Girls' and King's, but St Hilda's would be competitive.
Otago Boys', which qualified top in zone 4, had a talented roster which was the equal of the country's best school teams, Matehaere believed.
Youth Olympian Sam Timmins is a strong rebounder and a fine post player, while Nuggets squad member Joe Cook-Green is a livewire guard who scores heavily.
Liam Aston is a quality outside shooter, Josh Petermann is another superb guard, and point guard Scott Adler completes what potentially shapes as the starting five. Adler is a good ball-handler and is charged with setting what should be a blistering tempo.
The side will look to attack in the transition and capitalise on an abundance of pace.
''Sam has a designated position and the rest just run,'' Matehaere said.
''They get the ball and move it quickly up the floor. You know Sam will pull down the rebound so the rest can get out pretty quickly.''
Otago Boys' is in pool D, which also includes Kings. Hamilton's Fraser High School is coached by Jeff Green and shapes as the toughest opponent in the pool, although Hutt Valley and St John's (Hamilton) are also expected to be very competitive.
St Andrew's College is the lowest-ranked team in pool D and will meet Otago Boys' in the opening game for both sides on Monday.
Otago Boys' and King's meet in the early game on Tuesday morning.
The A (smaller schools) tournament is also in Palmerston North next week. St Kevin's College is the defending champion in the boys section, and Kavanagh College has also qualified.
