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Duke Basketball: Jayson Tatum, Marvin Bagley to Rising Stars Challenge

By Kevin Connelly

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a shot against the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center on January 10, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a shot against the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center on January 10, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Two former stars of the Duke Basketball have been noticed in the NBA as Jayson Tatum and Marvin Bagley have been named to the Rising Stars Challenge Game.

Jayson Tatum and Marvin Bagley III have asserted themselves as two of the best young stars in the NBA and the two have been recognized for their hard work.

Both former Duke forwards have been named to the NBA’s Rising Star Challenge which takes place on the Friday of NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina at 9:00 pm ET.

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Bagley and Tatum will represent Team USA in the game as the Americans go up against Team World.

This will be Jayson Tatum’s second time in this game as the challenge rounds up the best rookies and ‘sophomores’ in the NBA.

Tatum scored 15 points, with four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block last season as Team USA lost to Team World, 155-124.

This season for the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum is averaging 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, all of which would be career highs for him.

As for the No. 2 pick in last years NBA Draft, Marvin Bagley III is averaging 12.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Sacramento Kings.

Bagley just had his freshman single season scoring record at Duke broken by Zion Williamson as Bagley had eight games of 25 points or more and Williamson just had his ninth game with over 25 points against Notre Dame on Monday.

Zion’s teammate, R.J. Barrett is currently tied with Bagley at eight games with over 25 points, and will almost certainly pass him at some point this season.

Marvin Bagley III averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds last season with the Duke Blue Devils.

Duke is tied with Kentucky (De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and Arizona (Deandre Ayton and Lauri Markkanen) with two players taking part in the game.

The Rising Stars Challenge will be on Friday, February 15 at 9 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina and can be seen on TNT.

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