SALT LAKE CITY -- The NBA announced Wednesday that Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward is among 18 players selected for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 24 in Orlando, during NBA All-Star 2012.
The Jazz also added forward DeMarre Carroll to their active roster.
Hayward is Utah's first participant in the event since Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap participated in 2008.
The participants in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.
Selected by the Jazz in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward has started all 24 games for the Jazz in his sophomore season, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28.3 minutes. The 6-foot-8 former Butler Bulldog has improved his numbers across the board from a season ago, increasing his averages by 4.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 11.4 minutes per game.
This year, a new format is being implemented to a game that has historically featured NBA rookies facing off against sophomores. For the first time, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams.
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced the team has agreed to terms with Carroll, a free-agent forward, who began the 2011-12 NBA season with the Denver Nuggets. He is expected to join the Jazz prior to practice this morning.
A 6-8, 212-pound forward out of Missouri, Carroll appeared in four games earlier this season with Denver, averaging 3.0 points in 5.3 minutes before being waived on February 4. Carroll split the 2010-11 campaign between the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. He was taken by Memphis in the first ruond of the 2009 draft.
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