SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Former Santa Clara men's basketball stars Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski are among the 28 players that earned spots to compete in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars, which will take place on Feb. 16 in Indianapolis as part of NBA All-Star 2024. The annual showcase of premier young talent features a mini-tournament with four teams comprised of NBA rookies and sophomores, as well as seven NBA G-League players. 

A total of 21 young NBA stars (11 rookies, 10 sophomores) were selected to the tournament by NBA assistant coaches. They will be drafted onto three seven-player teams, while the seven G-League players will comprise of the fourth team to round out the tournament. Pau Gasol, Tamika Catchings and Jalen Rose will serve as the head coaches for the NBA teams, and will draft their rosters on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 1:00 p.m. PT. 

Santa Clara is one of just four programs with multiple former players on the 28-man roster, joining Auburn (Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith, Jr.), Duke (Dereck Lively II and Paolo Banchero) and Kentucky (Cason Wallace and Oscar Tshibwe). 

This is the second Rising Stars selection for Williams, who has solidified himself as one of the top players on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 12th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft is averaging 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the Thunder, and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season with a high of 36 against the Knicks on Dec. 27. 

Podziemski earned his selection as one of the league's 11 rookies to be honored. The 19th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors is averaging 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists, and is among the Warriors' top players off the bench. 

The 2024 Panini Rising Stars will air live on TNT at 6:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 16.