Feb. 22, 2012
What: BBVA Rising Stars Challenge
When: Feb. 24, 9 p.m. ET
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.
TV: TNT
New York, N.Y. – Former Georgia Tech star Derrick Favors has been chosen to play in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, which will take place Friday night during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Fla.
Favors, the No. 1 prep player in the nation in 2009 out of South Atlanta High School, played at Tech in the 2009-10 season and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the finals of the ACC Tournament and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 12.4 point and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Favors was the third overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by New Jersey, who traded him to the Jazz last season.
For the first time, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams in a game that formerly pitted first-year players against second-year players. BBVA, the Official Bank of the NBA, will serve as the title partner of the new event.
TNT Analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as the general managers of two opposing teams, each with ten man rosters, consisting of NBA rookies and sophomores drafted from a pool that was previously selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches. Also, TNT’s Kenny Smith will serve as the honorary Commissioner.
Favors becomes the fourth Tech alumnus involved in All-Star Weekend activities. Chris Bosh (2002-03) is a reserve in the All-Star Game, Anthony Morrow (2005-08) is participating in the Three-Point Contest, and Iman Shumpert (2009-11) is competing in the Dunk Contest.
The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Draft was held Thursday, Feb. 16, with a surprise decision by Commissioner Smith to add Heat rookie Norris Cole and Knicks sophomore Jeremy Lin to the roster pool. At the end of the draft, the teams looked like this:
Team Shaq - #TeamShaqBlake Griffin, LA ClippersJeremy Lin, NY KnicksRicky Rubio, Minnesota TimberwolvesMarkieff Morris, Phoenix SunsKemba Walker, Charlotte BobcatsLandry Fields, NY KnicksNorris Cole, Miami HeatBrandon Knight, Detroit PistonsTristan Thompson, Cleveland CavaliersGreg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
Team Chuck – #TeamChuck Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves Paul George, Indiana Pacers MarShon Brooks, NJ Nets John Wall, Washington Wizards Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs (out with injury) Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs Gordon Heyward, Utah Jazz
