PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8 -- The Sophomores were the first to practice in front of an enthuasistc crowd at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge. (You didn't really think they would let the Rookies go first did you?)

Martin

Richardson

Amid all the hoopla of the surrounding NBA Jam Session Presented By Fleer, Sophomores Coach Billy Cunningham put his squad through their paces. With the Clippers' Quentin Richardson running the point, the second-year players ran through a few of their sets and looked very loose. Maybe that's because some of them - Richardson, the Nets' Kenyon Martin, the Raptors' Morris Peterson, and and the Magic's Mike Miller - had been in the 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge last year as Rookies.

With former Sixers great Billy Jones helping former Sixers head coach Billy Cunningham, the hometown crowd really seemed to rally behind the Sophomore squad. But being Sophomores, this team learned quickly and left the court for the Rookies to take over.

The Rookies came out, and immediately head coach Chuck Daly got them fired up. They went right into their formations, with Daly showing why he is such a great coach. The Rookies really responded to his instructions, and then Chocolate Thunder - assistant coach Darryl Dawkins - rumbled into action.

Dawkins brought some competition to the practice by ordering the Rookies to split into two teams. Each team raced to hit ten shots from various parts of the floor. The crowd and the Rookies really seemed to enjoy the action. Finally, after Coach Daly was satisfied the Rookies were ready, all the Rookies, except the three players in the HOOPZ Challenge, hit the showers.

Both teams proved at the practice that they got game.