Ridnour has started all 41 games for the Sonics this season, averaging 9.9 points and a team-high 6.2 assists per game. He ranks fourth in the NBA in free-throw percentage (91.5%), fifth in assist-turnover ratio (3.59) and 12th in assists per game. He also ranks in the NBA's top ten in assists per 48 minutes (9.5). Ridnour ranks third amongst sophomores in assists, trailing Miami's Dwyane Wade (7.6 apg) and Chicago's Kirk Hinrich (7.1 apg).

Ridnour is headed to Denver for the got milk? Rookie Challenge. Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty

The Sonics are represented by a member of the Sophomore team for the third time in four seasons. Desmond Mason represented the Sonics in 2002, scoring six points and six rebounds as the Sophomores lost 103-97. Last year, Ronald "Flip" Murray scored 25 points and handed out a game-high 10 assists as the Sophomores prevailed 142-118.

The participants in the got milk? Rookie Challenge were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistant from the 2005 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

The got milk? Rookie Challenge will be televised live nationally on TNT in the United States and on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Live audio broadcasts are available on ESPN Radio and on NBA.com in multiple languages.

Last year, the Sophomores defeated the Rookies, 142-118, with Amaré Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns earning the Most Valuable Player award.

Top overall pick Dwight Howard will be joined on the Rookie team by Tony Allen of the Boston Celtics, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls, Devin Harris of the Dallas Mavericks, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats, Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Beno Udrih of the San Antonio Spurs. Deng and Udrih are among the record number of 79 active international players in the NBA.

Ridnour is joined on the sophomore team by Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors, Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat, Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyle Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

If a rookie or second-year player is selected to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, he will also play in the got milk? Rookie Challenge on Friday evening.

This is the sixth year under the current rookie versus sophomore format with the Sophomores leading the series, 3-2. The game will be played in two 20-minute halves, with each team allowed one full timeout and one 20-second timeout per half. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player can not foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner.

For the second consecutive year, NBA.com will provide basketball fans with the opportunity to have their vote count towards selecting the MVP of the got Milk? Rookie Challenge, as part of the site's exclusive NBA All-Star 2005 coverage.

The got milk? Milk Mustache campaign is sponsoring the NBA Rookie platform to highlight the importance of milk's bone-building calcium and eight other essential nutrients for active people, teens especially, who add about 15 percent of their adult height during these years. The platform includes the got milk? Rookie Challenge, the got milk? Rookie of the Month awards, the got milk? Rookie of the Year award and the got milk? All-Rookie Team.