New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and guard Derrick Rose, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, headline the list of 18 players selected for the 2009 Rookie Challenge, set for Friday, February 13 in Phoenix.

The game pits the league's top rookies against the best second-year players, as voted by NBA assistant coaches. The matchup is a prelude to the NBA All- Star Game, slated for Sunday, February 15.

Two All-Star starters will serve on each team's coaching staff in a slight twist for the game, which began in 1994, as Orlando's Dwight Howard will help out the sophomores, and Miami's Dwyane Wade will sit on the rookies' bench.

Joining Durant on the sophomore team are his frontcourt teammate Jeff Green, Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and Houston Rockets guard Aaron Brooks and his teammate forward Luis Scola.

Teammates from the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies will join Rose on the rookie squad. Portland center Greg Oden, who was the top selection in the 2007 draft but missed an entire season due to a right knee injury, and his teammate guard Rudy Fernandez will team with Memphis' guard/center combo O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez round out the first-year players.

Last year's contest ended in a 136-109 victory for the sophomores, who own a 7-2 advantage over rookies in the challenge, which went to the current format in 2000. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was named the 2008 MVP, making 11 three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points.