Jaime Jaquez Jr., a youngster for the Miami Heat, was chosen for the NBA’s Rising Stars event on Feb. 16 at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.

Jaquez, who was picked 18th overall in the draft out of UCLA in June, is the first Heat player chosen for the event since Precious Achiuwa and Tyler Herro in 2021. That year, the event wasn’t held because of the pаndemic, but the teams of first- and second-year players were still chosen. Kendrick Nunn, a Heat player from 2020, was the most recent Heat player to take part in the event.

Jaquez has also said that he will take part in the dunk event on All-Star Saturday.

The Heat did not have a player chosen by fans, reporters, or players to start in the All-Star Game on February 18. Center Bam Adebayo is the most likely Heat player to be named to the All-Star team when the backups are released Thursday.

What about Jaquez? This year’s Rising Stars game will be a mini-tournament with teams that will be picked next week.

Not only do first- and second-year players usually make up the player pool, but there are also possibilities from the G League. One of the chosen prоspects is Heat training camp prоspect Alondes Williams, who plays for the Heat’s club team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, right now. Williams and Cole Swider, a two-way player for the Heat, were also chosen to play in the G League All-Star Game during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Along with Herro (2021, ’20), Achiuwa (2021), Nunn (2020), Norris Cole (2012), Michael Beasley (2009, ’10), Dwyane Wade (2004, ’05), Udonis Haslem (2004, ’05), Caron Butler (2003), Kurt Thomas (1996), and Khalid Reeves (1995), Jaquez is the 11th Heat player to be chosen for the Rising Stars.

Jaquez is the rookie leader this season in steals per game, minutes played, scoring average, field goals made, free throws made, field goal percentage, and assists per game. He is also ranked fifth in free throws made and sixth in field goal percentage.

For November and December, he was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.