Jazz's Walker Kessler, Keyonte George named to Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend

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NEW YORK — Keyonte George was on the phone with fellow rookie Anthony Black Tuesday afternoon. Black, the Orlando Magic guard, just so happened to bring up that the Rising Stars participants were being announced later in the day.

That was news to George.

He got more welcomed news when he pulled up the social media tease of the team that featured the baby pictures of all the players selected. One of them was awfully familiar.

George was one of 11 rookies named to the rookie team for the Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis in February. Jazz center Walker Kessler will make his return to the event, too, after being named to the sophomore squad.

"I'm happy for both those guys," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "I think anytime you're honored by the league, by your peers, by other coaches, it speaks to the work that you're doing. I don't think that anybody should take any of those moments for granted."

And George isn't.

George, who came into Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks averaging 11.0 points and 4.3 assists, knows he's had an up-and-down season. He's shown nice flashes, especially early in the season that earned him a spot in the starting lineup. But he has struggled with his shot and to find some consistency as of late. None of that is uncommon — there's talk of a rookie for a reason.

And being named as one of the best rookies midway through the year is something he can proudly hang his hat on.

"A lot of big-time players come through that game," George said. "Not a lot of people participate. There are only 11 rookies and there were 60 of us drafted this year. You've got to put things in perspective sometimes. This is a part of the journey. This is another accolade I can kind of put on my belt and be able to say that I've been a part of it and trying to build off it."

Kessler was one of 10 second-year players named to the sophomore team. He played as a rookie in the event — that also pits the rookies and sophomore groups against a G League team — last season in Salt Lake City.

Kessler has averaged 8.4 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.

"Obviously, both of those guys down the road I'm sure would like to be NBA All-Stars," Hardy said. "But to be recognized as some of the top young players in the league, I think it speaks to them and the work they're putting in. I'm going to continue to try to help them improve individually as much as I can. At the same time, hopefully, they can continue to contribute to winning."