2016 NBA Rising Stars Challenge roster: Andrew Wiggins, Kristaps Porzingis star for World team

The NBA's best rookies and sophomores will again team up based on geography in the 2016 NBA Rising Stars Challenge. The World Team will look to repeat behind its returning MVP, Andrew Wiggins, who scored 22 points in a 121-112 victory over Team USA a year ago.

The game will feature the top five picks from last year's draft, and five players are returning with experience from playing on last year's squads. No. 4 overall pick Kristaps Porzingis and No. 5 pick Mario Hezonja will play for the World Team.

The focus will turn to the 7'3 Latvian sensation Porzingis. The three-time Rookie of the Month Award winner will battle an equally decorated Minnesota Timberwolves big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. The two are viewed as frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year Award, a race that was all but over a year ago after eventual winner Wiggins' greatest competition, Jabari Parker, went down with an ACL injury.

This year's BBVA Rising Stars Challenge will take place at 9 p.m. ET Friday in Toronto's Air Canada Centre. Below is the roster for the World Team.

Bojan Bogdanovic, Brooklyn Nets, G/F: Nope, not Bogdan. Bojan is instead playing in America, reaping the playing-time benefits of running with an injured and bad Nets team. He's a deeper bench player elsewhere, but in Brooklyn, he sometimes starts and otherwise is the team's sixth man. In last year's event, Bogdanovic scored 16 points, hitting 6 of 10 field goal attempts.

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets, F/C: If there's any mercy on Earth, this game won't be finished on the free throw line, as Capela serves as Dwight Howard's even-worse free throw shooting encore in Houston. But the 6'10 big man from Switzerland has emerged in other ways as a solid rebounder, rim protector and put-back guy.

Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, G: One of the cockiest rookies in recent memory, Hezonja looks to make his name known based on his game. He's played a bench role as a rookie, stacked behind the Magic's assortment of talent plucked from the fountain of youth. His scoring impact is minimal on less-than-hot shooting, but as his demeanor suggests, he's not afraid of the big moment. He's also playing more of late and showing his talent.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, C: The 20-year-old was drafted just 41st overall in 2014, but has come on strong in the absence of sophomore teammate Jusuf Nurkic. "The Joker" is still raw, but is a steady big man nearing double-digit points per game while showing some real skill.

Trey Lyles, Utah Jazz, F: Lyles replaces Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, who had an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago. The Kentucky product has capitalized on a mid-season injury to starter Derrick Favors. In January, he averaged eight points and 5.1 rebounds in 25.1 minutes.

Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets, G: In a season going nowhere fast, Denver has been extra cautious with its highest draft pick since Carmelo Anthony in 2003, holding him out 14 games with an ankle sprain. When he's played, though, he's showed his potential, scoring double digits in points and leading rookies in assists per game. He shoots poorly from the field and is erratic at times, but he already knows how to hit the highlight reel.

Raul Neto, Utah Jazz, G: The 6'1 point guard was drafted 47th overall in the 2013 draft, but the rookie picked the perfect time to start his American campaign. Utah's 2014 lottery pick and presumed starter Dante Exum went down with an ACL injury in an exhibition game over the summer, opening playing time for Neto. Neto won't light it up scoring, but he serves as a useful set-up man.

Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks, F/C: You're in a good place when a former MVP calls you a unicorn. A universal rarity, Porzingis will stand considerably taller than any of his peers in the event, yet he'll look to put on a deep shooting show as a near 35-percent three-point shooter. His overall numbers this season have fluctuated with his ailing superstar teammate Carmelo Anthony's health often dictating his workload, but it's hard to deny Porzingis provides the highest upside of any rookie or sophomore in the league.

Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks, F/C: Potential lies in Powell, a lengthy 6'11 power forward who was a throw-in to Dallas' disastrous deal with the Boston Celtics for Rajon Rondo last season. Powell has gotten some run this season with starter Dirk Nowitzki missing spot games for rest and playing the third-lowest minutes-per-game average of his 18-year career. Powell's post moves aren't there, but he can clean up the glass.

Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves, G/F: Last year's No. 1 pick will again face off against his classmate and fellow Timberwolf Zach LaVine. Wiggins will also welcome teammate and new No. 1 pick Towns to his home country of Canada. Wiggins leads all Rising Stars participants in scoring, and will look to become the event's first ever two-time MVP.