New York, January 30, 2002 - Hayley Hollenga, a seventh grade student at Sacramento's Bear River School, has been selected as a member of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Star Team, it was announced by the National Basketball Association today. She will attend NBA All-Star 2002 representing the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs.

Hayley is among a group of five boys and five girls from across the United States who will be honored guests at NBA All-Star 2002 in Philadelphia as members of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Star Team. Hayley and her fellow Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Stars will take part in a number of NBA All-Star 2002 festivities, including playing an exhibition game during halftime of The "got milk?" Rookie Challenge, Saturday afternoon, February 9, at the First Union Center. The group will be introduced to the crowd during All-Star Saturday Night and will attend Sunday's All-Star Game.

"I'm pleased that Hayley will be among the distinguished group of young basketball players taking part in our All-Star festivities this year in Philadelphia" said Chris Weiller, Senior Director of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA. "The National All-Stars were selected for their performance both on-and off-the-court and are fitting ambassadors for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program, which reaches hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, parents and coaches."

A point guard for the Comets team in the Beale Air Force Base Boys & Girls Club League, Hayley was named a Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Star based upon her stellar performance on- and off-the-court Hayley led her team to an 8-2 record this season averaging 12 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists a game.

"Hayley is truly an exceptional athlete," says Jeanene Graves, League Director. "She is Beale's top point guard in her age group. Hayley's natural ability combined with her strong commitment and determination makes her our obvious choice."

Hayley made it to the finals in the 2000-01 NFL Punt-Pass-Kick Contest for the San Francisco 49er's, where she performed at halftime. Hayley is an American Red Cross certified babysitter and spends her free time babysitting for families who have parents deployed in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom."

Earlier this season, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member league directors across the country had the opportunity to name one boy and one girl in their programs, ages 11-12, as a Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA League All-Star. Through submission of a league director nomination form, each League All-Star was then nominated for Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Regional All-Star consideration. An independent selection committee made up of youth basketball administrators, NBA and WNBA team executives, officials from the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and representatives from Gatorade and Nike then selected a group of 130 Regional All-Stars.

Thirty players from the group of Regional All-Stars were identified as finalists and asked to submit a skills video, report card and nomination form for evaluation by an independent national selection committee. The committee, which included representatives from the Regional selection committees, as well as Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Advisory Council member Bill Walton, Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld and New York Liberty General Manager and Basketball Hall-of-Famer Carol Blazejowski, chose 10 players as Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA National All-Stars. Twenty players received National All-Star honorable mention recognition. The 10 National All-Stars, made up of five boys and five girls, will travel to NBA All-Star 2002 in Philadelphia, PA next month to represent the 350,000 boys and girls playing in Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member leagues throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA, presented by Gatorade and Nike, is a support organization for recreational youth basketball leagues in the United States, Canada and abroad that provides programs designed to connect players, parents and coaches in an effort to heighten awareness and participation in youth basketball. Approximately 1,300 youth basketball leagues and 35,000 teams (for boys and girls, ages 5-14 years-old) are 2001-2002 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA members. 35,000 head coaches and 350,000 players and their parents receive program components.

The cornerstone of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA support program is a series of instructional guides created by nationally-recognized youth sports expert Rick Wolff along with the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Advisory Council -- Ray Allen (All-Star, Milwaukee Bucks), Tina Thompson (All-Star, Houston Comets), Glenn "Doc" Rivers (Head Coach, Orlando Magic), Nell Fortner (Head Coach, Indiana Pacers) and Bill Walton (Member, Basketball Hall of Fame).