Joel Bolomboy is an All-Star.
The former Weber State big man and 52nd overall pick of the Utah Jazz in last June's NBA draft who has spent much of the season playing for the NBA D-League's Salt Lake City Stars was named a D-League All-Star on Thursday.
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Bolomboy, who leads the league in rebounding with an average of 12.9 per contest, was named as a replacement for the Iowa Energy's JaKarr Sampson on the Western Conference team. The game will take place on Saturday afternoon in New Orleans as part of the NBA's All-Star Weekend festivities.
In 19 games with the Stars, Bolomboy is also averaging 15.8 points and 1.3 blocks in just over 34 minutes per contest. He has shot 14-of-29 from behind the 3-point line and has recorded 14 double-doubles.
To be eligible for selection, players had to have competed in at least half of their teams' games and be on a D-League roster at the time of the game. To that end, Bolomboy was assigned Thursday by the Jazz to Salt Lake City.
It was the latest in a long string of such transactions this season, which have allowed Bolomboy to practice with the Jazz and get plenty of time on the court with the Stars. He has appeared in nine games for Utah.
Bolomboy becomes the fourth Jazzman to be involved in the Big Easy festivities this weekend, as Gordon Hayward will participate in the NBA All-Star Game and Skills challenge, while Dante Exum and Trey Lyles will be in the Rising Stars Challenge.
The D-League All-Star Game will tip off on Saturday at 12:30 and will be aired on NBA TV.