CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't know what to expect from Cedi Osman this season.

He showed exciting flashes as a rookie, earning plenty of praise from old teammate LeBron James. But Osman's playing time was sporadic, as he averaged 11.0 minutes and started just 12 of 61 games.

His production fluctuated as well, ranging anywhere from eye-opening -- recording back-to-back double-digit scoring games in early March -- to alarming, with a 33-minute clunker late in the season against Philadelphia where the coaching staff lost faith in the overmatched rookie.

So heading into Year Two, there were more questions than answers.

All the team really knew: Osman was in line for a starting gig and at the epicenter of the organizational shift into player development mode.

On Tuesday, the 23-year-old swingman was named a Rising Star. Yes, he was one of 10 players selected to Team World for the Rising Stars Challenge, which features a collection of first- and second-year players in a showcase of the game's brightest young stars from both the United States and around the world.

"I would say he has exceeded expectations as far as his play performance," head coach Larry Drew said. " I just see him getting better and better. Cedi is a part of this future. As he continues to grow, he continues to develop, he has a chance to be a really special player. He has really shown that he is really ready to take that next step -- take that next step and blossom into a really good NBA player. As of late he is definitely moving in that direction."

Osman didn't receive the official news until after the game, celebrating the accomplishment with all of his teammates in the locker room.

"I'm really happy," Osman said. "Everybody said congrats, they came to me and I appreciated it. This is all about the team. The success that comes is because of the team. I really appreciate them. This is not basketball 1-on-5, it's 5-on-5. They helped me a lot. Half of the prize is theirs."

Moments before that celebration, the Cavs were capping a three-point win against the Washington Wizards. Cleveland was in control for most of the second half before the Wizards charged back late. It wasn't pretty. There were plenty of late-game mistakes. But it was still a win, one that Osman solidified with his defensive play to keep the Wizards from getting a game-tying shot.

Osman scored 26 points on an efficient 10-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range. It was the latest individual gem during what has become a torrid late-January stretch. Osman's recent play has Drew -- and others inside the organization -- believing the youngster is starting to figure it out and playing with the same confidence he used to possess while playing overseas.

Over the last six games, Osman has reached double figures five times. He's averaging 20.3 points on 54.3 percent from the field and 44.7 percent from 3-point range to go with 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34.9 minutes.

Most importantly, Osman is making a difference. Since Jan. 19, the sophomore holds the team's third-best net rating and his maligned defense has improved as well.

"Cedi is playing incredible, looking to attack first and set up the shot second," Nance said before discussing Osman's invite to All-Star Weekend. "It's a pretty special thing. Ten players, to be one of the best 10 international young players in the league, that's nothing to scoff at. We're all proud of him and he deserves it, especially with his play of recent."

Osman has spoken plenty about his maturation lately. He credits teammates for urging him to stay aggressive and pointing out areas of improvement from the sidelines. He is appreciative of coaches for the non-stop film breakdowns that have allowed him to see the game through a different lens. Osman even likes to watch previous games to remind himself about the best way to attack and how he has found the most success this season.

The 23-year-old has been thrust into some tough situations this season, including carrying a bigger offensive load than expected and asked out of necessity to guard bigger guys. But everyone will admit the same: Osman has come a long way since training camp.

Yes, there's plenty of room to improve and the advanced metrics haven't been kind. Heck, even in Tuesday's win there were a handful teaching moments.

Osman missed six of eight free throws, including some critical ones in crunch time. He got stuck from time to time when asked to create on his own. His outside jumper, while much more reliable recently, remains a work in progress.

But the questions are again starting to shift within the franchise. It's no longer so much about whether he's equipped for this increased role that he was given following LeBron's departure or if he's more suited to come off the bench. Osman has started to answer that.

The latest question: What's next?

"Next step for me is to be consistent," Osman said Tuesday. "The NBA is the world's best basketball league and you can't go further than that. So, of course, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs. You just have to keep working and watching and learning."