As part of its All-Star Game activation, the NBA said that marketing partner State Farm’s 26 Seconds campaign would be the presenting sponsor of the 2012 NBA Development League All-Star Game.

State Farm launched the 26 Seconds campaign to “address the dropout issue by empowering teens to not only be aware of this startling statistic, but to make a personal commitment to graduate.” The campaign is supported by the education community, particularly the America’s Promise Alliance and NBA All-Star LeBron James.

As part of the effort, the D-League All-Star Game will be played with a 26-second shot clock (as opposed to the usual 24-second shot clock) “to drive awareness to the fact that a student drops out of high school every 26 seconds in America.

The sixth NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by 26 Seconds will take place at NBA Jam Session Center Court at the Orange County Convention Center on Feb. 25 and broadcast live on NBA TV (2 PM ET).

As part of presenting the 2012 NBA D-League All-Star Game, the 26 Seconds campaign will have prominent exposure throughout Center Court at the NBA All-Star Jam Session. State Farm will also present the MVP Award to the game’s most valuable player during a post-game ceremony.

The campaign’s message also will be prevalent at the game: “BSEEN, BHEARD, BYOU and BMOR (be more) than this statistic.”

The issue and campaign are currently being seen nationally in a TV commercial and referenced in a BoostUp.org PSA from the Ad Council.

“We’re very excited to work together with the 26 Seconds campaign to bring awareness, in an innovative way, to an issue that is of crucial importance for the future of our youth,” NBA D-League President Dan Reed said in a statement. “This initiative is a natural fit with our mission of development both on and off-the-court, and we’re proud to use our game to deliver the message that completing high school is of the utmost importance.”

According to Edward Rust Jr., chairman and CEO for State Farm, “It’s going to take all of us working together to change the dropout statistic and help young people choose to stay in school. Engaging young people as active participants in this national conversation is critically important and we’re pleased that the NBA has integrated the 26 Seconds campaign into NBA All-Star 2012.”