Shiloh grad Josh Okogie, Hawks’ Trae Young among choices for NBA Rising Stars

The rosters for the NBA Rising Stars game announced Tuesday include Rookie of the Year candidates Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.

Ten first- and second-year NBA players from the United States will play 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world in the annual showcase of some of the league’s best young talent in the game on Feb. 15 in Charlotte, N.C.

Along with Young, the U.S. team includes Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen, Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III and guard De’Aaron Fox, Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and forward Kyle Kuzma, Hawks forward/center John Collins, Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.

Doncic (Slovenia) is joined on the World team — representing four continents — by Philadelphia 76ers guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons (Australia), Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (United Kingdom), Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (Bahamas), Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia), Los Angeles Clippers guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (Latvia), Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (Nigeria) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman (Turkey).

The honorary coaches for the game will be the Celtics’ Kyrie Irving (U.S.) and the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (World). The Rising Stars head coaches will be an assistant coach from each 2019 NBA All-Star Game coaching staff. The coaching staffs for the All-Star Game, to be played Feb. 17 in Charlotte, N.C., are determined by the best record in each conference through games played on Feb. 3.

The Rising Stars rosters were selected by NBA assistant coaches, with each of the league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per coaching staff. Voters had to select a minimum of three first-year NBA players and three second-year NBA players for each team.

Last year, the World team beat the U.S. team 155-124. Bogdanovic was named the 2018 Rising Stars MVP after hitting seven 3-pointers and finishing with 26 points, six assists and four rebounds.

–Field Level Media