Pacers Bennedict Mathurin, Oscar Tshiebwe named to Rising Stars on All-Star Weekend

BOSTON -- Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was named as one of the 10 "sophomores" who will take part in the Panini Rising Stars event on All-Star Weekend on Feb. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Center Oscar Tshiebwe, who plays for the Pacers and Mad Ants on a two-way contract, will also take part in the event as one of seven players representing the G League.

The event, which last season was a series of games with mixed rosters, will tip-off at 9 p.m. and be televised on TNT.

Mathurin, a first-team All-Rookie pick last year, was also part of the Rising Stars event last season. His numbers are slightly down this season after he posted the third-highest scoring figure of any Pacers rookie in history. He has spent most of the year coming off the bench, but he averages 14.3 points per game. His shooting numbers are up across the board: 45.6% from the floor, 36.4% from 3-point range and 83.4% from the free throw line.

Mathurin is joined on the sophomores list by former Purdue, Mishawaka Marian and La Lumiere star Jaden Ivey. Ivey, who was picked one spot ahead of Mathurin in the 2022 draft, is averaging 14.3 points and 3.7 assists for Detroit this season, though the Pistons are struggling at a historic rate with a 6-40 record.

Joining Mathurin and Ivey on the sophomores squad are reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero of Orlando, New Orleans' Dyson Daniels, Detroit's Jalen Duren, Utah's Walker Kessler, Sacramento's Keegan Murray, Portland's Shaedon Sharpe, Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. and Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams.

The 11 rookies invited to the event are Washington's Bilal Coulibaly, Utah's Keyonte George, New Orleans' Jordan Hawkins, Portland's Scoot Henderson, Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dallas' Derrick Lively II, Charlotte's Brandon Miller, Golden State's Brandin Podziemski, Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama.

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Tshiebwe, the former Kentucky All-American, has had limited action with the Pacers. With the Mad Ants, he's averaging 12.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in 10 regular-season games, and he averaged 16.8 points and 16.0 rebounds in 10 Showcase Cup games.

The other six G League players involved: Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland and Tyler Smith of G League Ignite, defending Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic and Alondes Williams of the Sioux Falls Sky Force.

Tshiebwe will also play in the G League Up Next Game on Feb. 18.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin, Oscar Tshiebwe named to Rising Stars