Carter-Williams, Davis, Lillard, Hardaway Jr. Headline Rising Stars Challenge

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Michael Carter-Williams, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis, the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. headline the list of 18 players selected for the 2014 Compass Rising Stars Challenge to be played Friday, Feb. 14, in New Orleans during NBA All-Star 2014.

Syracuse, Kentucky and Michigan each have two former players in the game. Carter-Williams and Dion Waiters of the Cleveland Cavaliers went to Syracuse, Davis and Terrence Jones of the Houston Rockets played at Kentucky and Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz were Wolverines.

Carter-Williams, the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October/November, leads all first year players in scoring (17.4 ppg), assists (6.7 apg), rebounding (5.6 apg) and steals (2.41 spg). Davis, the league leader in blocks (3.27 bpg), is averaging a double-double with 20.4 points and 10.4 rebounds. Lillard, the 2012-13 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year has the Trail Blazers near the top of the Western Conference standings thanks to averages of 20.6 points and 5.6 assists.

Hardaway Jr. recently scored 18 points in the Knicks win over the Lakers on Sunday.

“It means a lot, it means the world to me,” Hardaway Jr. said Thursday

Below is the roster for the 2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge:

2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge Player Pool

Prior to NBA/

Player                       Team               Pos.   Ht.    Wt.    Home Country                Exp

Steven Adams           Oklahoma CityC       7-0    255   Pittsburgh/New Zealand  R

Pero Antic                 Atlanta             C       6-11  260   Olympiacos/Macedonia  R

Giannis Antetokounmpo     Milwaukee       G/F   6-9    205   Filathlitkos/Greece             R

Harrison Barnes        Golden State    F       6-8    210   North Carolina/USA       1

Bradley Beal             Washington      G      6-5    207   Florida/USA                    1

Trey Burke               Utah                 G      6-1    190   Michigan/USA                R

Michael Carter-Williams     Philadelphia     G      6-6    185   Syracuse/USA                 R

Anthony Davis         New Orleans    F/C    6-10  220   Kentucky/USA               1

Andre Drummond    Detroit             C       6-10  270   Connecticut/USA            1

Tim Hardaway, Jr.    New York        G      6-6    205   Michigan/USA                R

Terrence Jones          Houston           F       6-9    252   Kentucky/USA               1

Damian Lillard          Portland           G      6-3    195   Weber State/USA            1

Victor Oladipo          Orlando           G      6-4    215   Indiana/USA                   R

Kelly Olynyk            Boston             F/C    7-0    238   Gonzaga/Canada             R

Mason Plumlee         Brooklyn         F/C    6-11  235   Duke/USA                      R

Jared Sullinger          Boston             F/C    6-9    260   Ohio State/USA              1

Jonas Valanciunas    Toronto            C       6-11  231   Lietuvos Rytas/Lithuania1

Dion Waiters                 Cleveland        G      6-4    225   Syracuse/USA                 1