The Maine Red Claws have acquired Hamady N'Diaye from the Available Player Pool. A 2010 Draft selection of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 7-0, 236 lb. center joins the Red Claws after having spent the past two seasons in the Washington Wizards organization.

N’Diaye, who had never played basketball until high school, set school records at Rutgers University for blocks in a season (145) and career (358) before being named the All Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. The Senegal native was drafted 56th overall by the Minnesota Timberwoves in 2010 before his rights were traded to the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards are still searching for their identity with two months left to go during a frustrating, unpredictable season.

“I think we are trying to find an identity and who we are and what kind of team we are,” said president Ernie Grunfeld. “I think we are playing much harder and are taking advantage of the resources we have including speed, length, and athleticism. We have a point-guard that likes to get up and down the floor and we need players that can play with John.”

The Wizards will be in line for a high draft pick, which could net another franchise cornerstone.

“We want to play the game the right way,” Grunfeld added. “ That’s making the extra pass, helping out on the defensive  end, rebounding the basketball, and playing with high energy and high intensity at all times. We have seen a lot of that, but when you have young players you are going to be inconsistent. Still those young payers are getting valuable minutes at an NBA level and that will be helpful over time.”

Rashard Lewis and Chris Singleton have alternated starting at small forward for the Wizards this season.

“We’ve got to get more out of that position, all the way around,” coach Randy Wittman said. “It’s just not one player. It’s everybody that plays there.”

Lewis and Singleton combined to score 43 points on the Wizards’ recent road trip, with Singleton averaging four points and Lewis averaging 4.6 points. Lewis said Wittman’s offense is centered around production from the guards and big men.

“You’ve got to move without the ball, because it’s not very many plays called for the three-man in this offense,” Lewis said. “A lot of stuff is with the point guard and the big, as well as the two guard. Nick is our scorer. He’s our go-to-guy on the team. The three-man, you’ve got to spread the wing, open the floor and knock down threes, to open it up for pick and roll. You’ve got to do little things, getting offensive-rebound putbacks or knock down the shots. Or just be aggressive, especially when the ball is swung around.”

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will defend his Taco Bell Skills Challenge title against a field consisting of Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, John Wall of the Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets.

The 2012 Taco Bell Skills Challenge will take place on Feb. 25, at Amway Center in Orlando.

John Wall was chosen 12th overall when Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal chose up sides for the NBA's Rising Stars Challenge

“It’s a joke to me,” said Wall, who is averaging 16.9 points and 7.5 assists in his second season. “If they think there are 11 guys better than me, then that’s their decision. But I know what I think in my mind and all I can do is go out there and play basketball the way I know how to play.”

Wall is averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds over his last 20 games.

“If they think I’m the 12th-best player out of all of those players, then that’s their decision. That’s my mindset. I know what I worked on this summer and I know what I can do on the basketball court,” Wall said. “That’s just one game. I’m not really worried about it. It’s one game. We got more season before the all-star break and after the all-star break, and how I want to finish.”

The NBA has announced the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge participants on Wednesday.

Sophomores selected include DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) Paul George (Indiana Pacers), and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Freshmen selected include Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Marshon Brooks (New Jersey Nets), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves).

The Washington Wizards have waived center Hamady Ndiaye.

Ndiaye appeared in three games for the Wizards this season and appeared in 10 games for the Iowa Energy (the Wizard’s NBA D-League affiliate).

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was asked about the coaching change that put Randy Wittman in the head chair.

“Well, I thought we needed to implement a system that played to the strengths of the players,” he said. “We’re young, we’re athletic, we’re long, and playing a more up-tempo game has made the team a lot more competitive. I think the players are adapting very very well to it.

“The game with Chicago, that’s one really really good team, also built around the draft, but we stayed with them and we played really really hard, played that pressing kind of defense, outscored them in the fourth quarter and that’s what we want to see. We want to show the fans that the team has upside, that even though we have nine players on rookie contracts, that we can be competitive....

“The young kids are growing up. They don’t look scared anymore. And that’s a natural evolution of their outlook towards games, and now we think we can win games.”

John Wall struggled through the early part of the season, but Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld noted that the 2010 No. 1 overall pick has picked up his game in recent weeks. In his past 10 games, Wall is averaging 18 points, 7.4 assists and shooting 42.2 percent from the floor.

“We want to see that competitive fire,” Grunfeld said. “Over the last 10 games, he’s playing much better and his competitive spirit is there, as well as the rest of the players. Obviously, John makes everything go for us and he’s a huge part of what we do, but this is a team game and you need production from a lot of different players, not just one player, and we want to see improvement as we move forward.

“I think we’re sharing the basketball much better. As with all young players, there is a process of growth and a process of learning and we’re going to have to continue that process.”