NBA honors two Gators

Houston's Chandler Parsons in action during a game against Philadelphia on Jan. 12 in Philadelphia. (The Associated Press)

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 5:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 5:34 p.m.

NEW YORK ? Two former University of Florida standouts were named to the Rising Stars Challenge, a game featuring top rookies and second-year players on All-Star weekend.

Second-year player Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets and rookie Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards are on the roster.

Kyrie Irving, the MVP of last year's Rising Stars Challenge, will return to the game.

The Cleveland All-Star and the former Florida standouts were three of 18 players chosen Wednesday for the Feb. 15 game in Houston. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal will again serve as general managers and draft teams during TNT's pregame show Feb. 7.

Rookie stars Damian Lillard of Portland and Anthony Davis of New Orleans, the No. 1 pick in the draft, also were selected.

Irving, voted an Eastern Conference reserve by the conference's head coaches, scored 34 points last year in Orlando to lead Team Chuck over Team Shaq, 146-133. Cavaliers teammates Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller also were picked.

The remainder of the roster is: Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson (Golden State); Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte); Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond (Detroit); Kenneth Faried (Denver); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio); Alexey Shved (Minnesota); and Nikola Vucevic (Orlando).

Source: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20130130/articles/130139942

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