Whitnall Grad Tyler Herro Selected For Game That Won't Happen

MIAMI, FL —Former Whitnall star basketball player and current Miami Heat standout Tyler Herro was selected Wednesday for the USA Team in the 2021 NBA Rising Stars Game. However, the game is not being played this season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Usually a fixture of NBA All-Star Weekend, the Rising Stars game features the league's top first and second-year players in a USA vs. The World format. However, with this year's NBA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta scaled back to a one day event due to COVID-19, the Rising Stars game is not on the schedule.

But that didn't stop the NBA from announcing the 20 players who would have competed in the contest. The league's assistant coaches filled out ballots that were used in team selection. Herro, enjoying a strong second season after a breakout performance in the NBA Finals last fall, earned the distinction.

This season, Herro has appeared in 23 games, starting 14, and is averaging 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He's scored in double figures 20 times, including seven 20-plus point games and two 30-plus point contests.

Herro, who was the No. 14 pick out of Kentucky in the 2019 NBA Draft, also was selected to the 2020 Rising Stars Game, but had to turn down the invitation because of an injury.