point guard

is considered the heavy favorite for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, so it's no surprise that he is one of the selections to play in the league's annual rookie-sophomore event, the Rising Stars Challenge.

Lillard leads all rookies in scoring (18.1 points), assists (6.5) and minutes (38.5).

“It’s exciting to be a part of All-Star Weekend, and I appreciate the assistant coaches including me on the roster,” Lillard said a release issued by the Blazers. “I’m happy to be named to the team and look forward to the experience.”

Lillard becomes the first Portland player selected to the game since Wesley Matthews played in the 2011 game as a second-year player. The last Portland players picked as rookies were Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden in 2009, although Oden did not play because of an injury.

The league's release:

IRVING, DAVIS, LILLARD, HEADLINE SELECTIONS FOR

2013 BBVA RISING STARS CHALLENGE ROSTER POOL

- Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal to serve as GMs and Draft Teams -

- Starting Lineups to be Selected by Fans -

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2013 – The Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, the reigning Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and a 2013 NBA All-Star, and rookies Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Hornets and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, headline the list of 18 players selected for the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge to be played Friday, Feb. 15, in Houston during NBA All-Star 2013.

Davis, the overall No. 1 selection in the 2012 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, is tied for the rookie lead in rebounds (7.6 rpg) and ranks first in blocks (1.8 bpg). Lillard has won consecutive Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards, and is leading first-year players in scoring (18.1 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg).

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge -- televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN Radio, with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages -- features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA's assistant coaches.

Joining Irving from the Sophomore class are: Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats).

Davis and Lillard lead a group of rookies that includes Harrison Barnes (Warriors)

Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats), Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers), and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers).

This marks the second straight year rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams. The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Draft is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 7, televised exclusively on TNT at 7 p.m. ET. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal will again serve as the general managers of TEAM CHUCK and TEAM SHAQ. Last year in Orlando, Irving netted a game-high 34 points and MVP honors as he led TEAM CHUCK over TEAM SHAQ 146-133.

Following the announcement of each team on Feb. 7, for the first time ever fans will be able to vote online from both their computer and mobile device for the starters of each team. The starting lineups will be determined by the players garnering the top votes for their respective positions, with two backcourt and three frontcourt spots for each team. The announcement of the starting lineup will be made in broadcast and in-arena on the night of the game.

The head coaches for both teams will be the lead assistant coaches from the 2013 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. The East and West coaching staffs will be determined by the best record in each conference through games played Feb. 3. The Chicago Bulls' and Oklahoma City's staffs, by virtue of having helmed the sidelines of the 2012 All-Star game, are not eligible to coach this year's game.

A limited number of tickets to the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge are now available. Fans can visit rockets.com or NBA.com/allstar2013 to purchase.

NBA All-Star brings together the top NBA players and performers for a week of competition, community service and world-class entertainment. Among the many other exciting All-Star events is the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night featuring Sears Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2013 include the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and NBA All-Star Jam Session.

Below is the roster for the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:

2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Player Pool

Prior to NBA/

Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Home Country Exp

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

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

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

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

Kenneth Faried Denver F 6-8 228 Morehead State/USA 1

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Charlotte G-F 6-7 232 Kentucky/USA R

Kyrie Irving Cleveland G 6-3 191 Duke/USA 1

Brandon Knight Detroit G 6-3 189 Kentucky/USA 1

Kawhi Leonard San Antonio F 6-7 225 San Diego State/USA 1

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

Chandler Parsons Houston F 6-9 207 Florida/USA 1

Alexey Shved Minnesota G 6-6 182 CSKA/Russia R

Klay Thompson Golden State G 6-7 205 Washington State/USA 1

Tristan Thompson Cleveland F 6-9 227 Texas/USA 1

Nikola Vucevic Orlando C 7-0 240 USC/USA 1

Dion Waiters Cleveland G 6-4 215 Syracuse/USA R

Kemba Walker Charlotte G 6-1 185 Connecticut/USA 1

Tyler Zeller Cleveland F/C 7-0 250 North Carolina/USA R

PREVIOUS BBVA RISING STARS CHALLENGE RESULTS

1994 - Phenoms 74, Sensations 68

1995 - White 83, Green 79 (OT)

1996 - East 94, West 92

1997 - East 96, West 91

1998 - East 85, West 80

2000 - Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)

2001 - Sophomores 121, Rookies 113

2002 - Rookies 103, Sophomores 97

2003 - Sophomores 132, Rookies 112

2004 - Sophomores 142, Rookies 118

2005 - Sophomores 133, Rookies 106

2006 - Sophomores 106, Rookies 96

2007 - Sophomores 155, Rookies 114

2008 - Sophomores 136, Rookies 109

2009 - Sophomores 122, Rookies 116

2010 - Rookies 140, Sophomores 128

2011 - Rookies 148, Sophomores 140

2012 - TEAM CHUCK 146, TEAM SHAQ 133