BROOKLYN –– On Wednesday morning, Robert Covington awoke to the sound of his phone buzzing on a bedside table at his parents’ home in Chicago. It was his agent telling the 24-year-old to call him back immediately, “It’s urgent,” the message read.

A groggy Covington picked up the phone and hit the call button. On the other end of the line, his agent, Chris Patrick, delivered the news that he had been chosen to represent Team USA at the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend in New York City in place of injured teammate Michael Carter-Williams.

“I was just like, ‘What?’, still half asleep,” a smiling Covington recalled after Friday’s Rising Stars practice. “[I went back to sleep], woke up, and was like, ‘Can you run that by me again?’”

His surprise was understandable. After all, just four months ago, he was preparing for his second season in the NBA Development League after being selected first-overall by the Grand Rapids Drive in the D-League Draft. Since being called up by the Sixers on November 15, he’s gone from relative unknown to one of the league’s rising young stars.

“It’s been a big transition, from going from two-a-days and long practices [during D-League training camp] to being up here back on the big stage doing well,” he said. “My coach [with the Drive], Otis Smith, always told me, ‘You’re not going to be here long.’

“This has been a blessing so far. I’ve been through a lot, and it’s all paying off.”

Joining Covington in the game will be rookie center Nerlens Noel. And although his experience coming into the league as a high first-round pick was starkly different to that of his undrafted Team USA teammate, playing in the Rising Stars Challenge is a long time coming for him as well.

“To be sidelined all last year and be here with the young stars of our league, it definitely means a lot,” said Noel, who missed all of last season while recovering from knee surgery. “Just being thrown back into everything, it’s incredibly humbling and something I’m definitely appreciative of.”

For Noel, who fancies himself a bit of a point-center when Sixers head coach Brett Brown’s not watching, is excited to show off some of the underrated aspects of his game. After Noel nailed a stepback three from the top of the arc during practice on Friday, Team USA head coach Alvin Gentry approached the 20-year-old and offered him some words of encouragement.

“He told me I’ll be able to shoot it tomorrow, and I said, ‘I’ll do more than shoot it,’” Noel said, chuckling. “Hopefully I will be able to showcase some of [my guard skills] tomorrow. It’s a game that’s all about having fun, and I’ll just look to get as many assists as possible.”

Before the game is played Friday night at 9pm (EST) on TNT, Covington, Noel, and Carter-Williams will get out in the community as part of NBA Care’s All-Star Day of Service. Be sure to follow @Sixers on Twitter, Philadelphia76ers on Instagram, Sixers on Snapchat, and Sixers.com for complete coverage leading up to tip.