NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2012: Breaking Down the Potential Rosters

The changes made to the rookie/sophomore challenge, including the name change to the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, has sparked a lot of debate concerning the possible rosters for the game.

The pool of players eligible to be selected by coaches Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal was released on Wednesday, leading to some interesting choices of what both teams could look like.

In an attempt to figure out what we could be in store for, we will break down what the possible rosters could look like.

The pool of players eligible to be drafted is as follows.

Second-Year Players

Blake Griffin, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Landry Fields, Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Greg Monroe, Tiago Splitter and Evan Turner

Rookies

Ricky Rubio, Kyrie Irving, MarShon Brooks, Brandon Knight, Kawhi Leonard, Markieff Morris, Tristan Thompson, Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams.

Without knowing who will have the first pick, we will call these squads Team A and Team B for now.

Team A will go first, followed by Team B with the picks rotating like a standard draft would. 

Griffin will be the No. 1 pick in this draft, followed by Team B selecting this season's No. 1 overall pick  Irving.

Team A will follow up with Rubio, Cousins and George with their next three picks, while Team B will end up with Wall, Monroe and Brooks.

At the end of the draft, the rosters could look like this:

Team A

Griffin, Rubio, Cousins, George, Splitter, Knight, Morris, Leonard and Turner.

Team B

Irving, Wall, Monroe, Brooks, Walker, Fields, Thompson, Hayward and Williams.

Looking at Team A at first glance, the potential of highlight reel lobs from Rubio to Griffin could be worth watching all by itself.

Adding the likes of Cousins and George give Team A a solid team with some nice bench pieces as well.

Team B will have an outstanding backcourt with Wall and Irving. They are both point guards, but in a game like this, it doesn't matter. They will play together, and they will be exciting.

Overall, though, Team A will have the advantage. Either way, they are going to get Griffin and a top point guard. Adding a guy like Cousins in the third round will make them a deeper, more talented all-around team.

No matter who ends up on each team, both the draft and the Rising Stars Challenge are going to be fun to watch.