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Teams to take part in NBA All-Star 2002 Festivities Feb. 9-10 in Philadelphia
Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Stars Announced
New York, Jan. 30 -- Five boys and five girls from across the United States have been
selected as members of the 2002 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Star Team, the NBA
announced today. Members of the National All-Star Team will be honored guests at NBA
All-Star 2002 in Philadelphia, where they will take part in a number of All-Star festivities
including playing an exhibition game during halftime of The "got milk?" Rookie Challenge,
Saturday afternoon, February 9 at the First Union Center.
"I’m pleased that this distinguished group of young basketball players will take part in our
All-Star festivities this year in Philadelphia," said Chris Weiller, Senior Director of the
Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA. "The National All-Stars were selected for their performance both
on-and off-the-court and are fitting ambassadors for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program, which
reaches hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, parents and coaches."
The 10 National All-Stars will travel to NBA All-Star 2002 in Philadelphia, PA, Feb. 8,
to represent the 350,000 boys and girls playing in Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member leagues
throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. The group will be introduced to the crowd
during All-Star Saturday Night and will attend Sunday’s All-Star Game.
The 2002 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Star Team Jr.
Jr. WNBA All-Stars
Ausha Hartley -- A 12-year-old guard playing in the Houston Parks & Recreation
League in Houston, TX. An Honor Roll seventh grader at the Paul Revere Middle School, Ausha
also gives back to her community by participating in clothing, school supply and food
drives. She will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Houston Rockets and Comets.
Cara Laslovich -- A 12-year-old guard playing in the Anaconda Recreation
Department League in Anaconda, MT. Cara, who is a straight A seventh grader at the Fred
Moodry Middle School, averages 17.5 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists a game. She will
attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Seattle Sonics and Storm.
Hayley Hollenga -- A 12-year-old point guard playing in the Beale Air Force Base
Boys & Girls Club in Sacramento, CA. A seventh grader at the Bear River School, Hayley
spends her free time babysitting for families who have parents deployed in "Operation
Enduring Freedom." She will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Sacramento Kings and
Monarchs.
Kelly Kosiek -- An 11-year-old forward playing in the Tacony Police Athletic
League in Philadelphia, PA. Kelly, a B+/A seventh grader the St. Bernard’s School, averages
10 points and 5 assists a game, leading her team to a 7-2 record. She will attend NBA
All-Star 2002 representing the Philadelphia 76ers.
Veronica Burciaga -- A 12-year-old guard playing in the Spurs Drug Free Youth Basketball League, at the Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio, Calderon Branch. Veronica is a B+/A seventh-grader at Floresville Middle School and last year led her team to a 7-0 record. She will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the San Antonio Spurs.
Jr. NBA All-Stars
Kendall Pinkney -- An 11-year-old guard playing in the Arkansas River Valley Boys
& Girls Club in Dardanelle, AR. An Honor Roll fifth grader at Dardanelle Elementary School,
Kendall averages 15 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists a game. He will attend NBA All-Star
2002 representing the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kyle Snodgrass -- An 11-year-old guard playing in the Hylton Boys & Girls Club in
Woodbridge, VA. A fifth grader at Monclair Elementary School, Kyle also led his AAU team to
two Virginia State Championships, averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists a game. He
will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Washington Wizards and Mystics.
Montana Brown -- An 11-year-old guard playing in the St. Petersburg Police
Athletic League in St. Petersburg, FL. A fifth grader with a B+ average at Maximo
Elementary School, Montana has led his team to a 37-9 record this season, averaging 22
points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists a game. He will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the
Orlando Magic and Miracle.
Oscar Bellfield -- A 12-year-old all-around player playing in the Pan Pacific
Recreation Complex Youth Basketball League in Los Angeles, CA. A sixth grader at
Westchester Neighborhood School, Oscar led his team to last year’s league championship,
averaging 23.5 points and 11 rebounds a game. He will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing
the Los Angeles Clippers.
Ryan Holcomb -- A 12-year-old center playing in the Boys & Girls Club of Otero
County Youth Basketball League in Alamogordo, NM. Ryan, a seventh grader with a 4.0 average
at Mount View Middle School, has led his team to an 8-0 record, averaging 15 points, 14
rebounds and 6 assists a game. He will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Phoenix
Suns and Mercury.
Earlier this season, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member league directors across the country had the
opportunity to name one boy and one girl in their programs, ages 11-12, as a Jr. NBA and Jr.
WNBA League All-Star. Through submission of a league director nomination form, each League
All-Star was then nominated for Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Regional All-Star consideration. An
independent selection committee made up of youth basketball administrators, NBA and WNBA
team executives, officials from the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and representatives from Gatorade and
Nike then selected a group of 130 Regional All-Stars. Thirty players from the group of
Regional All-Stars were identified as finalists and asked to submit a skills video, report
card and nomination form for evaluation by an independent national selection committee. The
committee, which included representatives from the Regional selection committees, as well as
Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Advisory Council member Bill Walton, Milwaukee
Bucks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld and New York Liberty General Manager and Basketball
Hall-of-Famer Carol Blazejowski, chose 10 players as Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National
All-Stars. Twenty players received National All-Star honorable mention recognition.
The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA, presented by Gatorade and Nike, is a support organization for
recreational youth basketball leagues in the United States, Canada and abroad that provides
programs designed to connect players, parents and coaches in an effort to heighten awareness
and participation in youth basketball. Approximately 1,300 youth basketball leagues and
35,000 teams (for boys and girls, ages 5-14 years-old) are 2001-2002 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA
members. 35,000 head coaches and 350,000 players and their parents receive program
components. The cornerstone of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA support program is a series of
instructional guides created by nationally-recognized youth sports expert Rick Wolff along
with the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Advisory Council -- Ray Allen (All-Star, Milwaukee Bucks),
Tina Thompson (All-Star, Houston Comets), Glenn "Doc" Rivers (Head Coach, Orlando Magic),
Nell Fortner (Head Coach, Indiana Fever) and Bill Walton (Member, Basketball Hall of Fame).
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