Mike Hudson, center and power forward for the Charlotte Rollin' Bobcats, has been selected for the East squad in the 2007 NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The ninth edition of the wheelchair basketball All-Star game features star players from the 23 NBA-affiliated wheelchair teams and will be played on Thursday, February 15 at 8 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino South Convention Center during NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas.

Rollin' Bobcats guard Jeff Brafford, a 2001 All-Star, was also selected but cannot participate due to injury.

A Gastonia native and resident, Hudson is the Rollin' Bobcats Division II team's leading scorer and rebounder this season averaging about 17 points and 11 boards.

"It's a great honor for me to continue the tradition of Rollin' Bobcats in the NBA/NWBA All-Star Game," says Hudson. "Wearing the orange and white means a lot to me, and outside of winning the NWBA championship for Charlotte again, this is the best thing I could imagine. I'm looking forward to playing with some of the great guys that I have to go against during the year."

Hudson, a double-above-knee amputee, has been playing wheelchair basketball for nine years. In his first season playing for Charlotte's Division III team, Hudson was named MVP of the 1998 NWBA DIII National Championship Tournament as Charlotte, then affiliated with the Hornets, won the national title. He has been named to numerous all-tournament teams this season and was tournament MVP of the Shepherd Shootout in Atlanta.

Somewhat of a neighborhood hero because of his basketball exploits, Hudson is frequently called upon by local kids as well as his nine-year-old son Chase for pickup games in the driveway.

"My son has always known me in a chair, so it's no big deal for him," notes Hudson. "The other kids thought it was cool at first but now they don't even think about it. I think they appreciate that as they grow older and taller, it's getting harder for me to block their shots.

"They still can't block mine though," he added with a laugh.