Arenas is among the leaders in every statistical category for second year players NBAE Photos/Getty Images

The NBA announced today that Warriors second-year players Gilbert Arenas, Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson have all been selected to play for the Sophomore squad in the “got milk?” Rookie Challenge on All-Star Saturday. The trio, who were all selected by Golden State in the 2001 NBA Draft, will join other second-year players to take on a team comprised of NBA rookies in the contest that will be played on Saturday, February 8, 2003 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA, as part of the NBA’s All-Star festivities.

This marks the first time in the four year history of the “got milk?” Rookie Challenge that three players from the same team have played together in the contest.

Arenas, who was selected with the first pick of the second round (#31) in the 2001 NBA Draft, is averaging 15.9 points, 5.1rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.47 steals in 35.4 minutes this season, making him one of just seven players in the NBA who is averaging at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He ranks 13th in the NBA in steals and among all second year players, ranks 2nd in scoring, 2nd in assists, 2nd in steals and 10th in rebounds.

Murphy is considered one of the top canidates for the NBA's Most Improved Player award NBAE Photos/Getty Images

Murphy, the 14th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, is averaging 11.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 33.1 minutes this season, making him one of just seven players in the NBA who is averaging a point/rebound double-double this season. He ranks 7th in the NBA in rebounds and 5th in the league in double-doubles (18), while ranking 1st in rebounding, T5th in minutes, 7th in scoring and 10th in steals among all second-year players. Murphy is the only player in the NBA who has improved both his scoring and rebounding averages by at least +5.0 per game this season compared to 2001-02. Through 38 games, Murphy is has increased his scoring average by +5.9 points (up from 5.9 rpg in 2001-02) and his rebounding average by +6.2 rebounds (up from 3.9 rpg) over the numbers he posted in 82 games during his rookie campaign.

Last year's "got Milk?" Rookie Challenge MVP returns for the sophmores this season NBAE Photos/Getty Images

Richardson, whom the Warriors selected with the 5th pick in the 2001 Draft, is averaging 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 33.1 minutes this season. He ranks 9th in the NBA in three-point percentage (.423 3FG%) and 11th in three-point field goals made (63). Among all NBA sophomores, he ranks 3rd in scoring, 4th in assists, T5th in minutes and T7th in steals. As a member of the rookie squad in this competition last season at All-Star Saturday in Philadelphia, Richardson took home MVP honors after scoring 26 points in 22 minutes to lead the rookies to a 103-93 victory. Hours later he won the 2002 NBA.com Slam Dunk presented by Real One to become the first player in NBA history to win both the MVP of the Rookie Challenge and win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He also became the first Warriors player to win either title.

Top Rankings of Second Year Players As of play on Jan. 15

Scoring	Rebounding	Assists	Steals
Pau Gasol (17.4)	Troy Murphy (10.2)	Jamaal Tinsley (7.8)	Jamaal Tinsley (1.88)
Gilbert Arenas (16.0)	Pau Gasol (8.3)	Gilbert Arenas (6.3)	Gilbert Arenas (1.51)
Jason Richardson (15.5)	Richard Jefferson (6.5)	Tony Parker (5.0)	Andrei Kirilenko (1.47)
Richard Jefferson (14.8)	Kwame Brown (5.7)	Jason Richardson (3.2)	Richard Jefferson (1.24)
Tony Parker (14.3)	Brendan Haywood (5.4)	Earl Watson (3.1)	Shane Battier (1.13)
Andrei Kirilenko (13.0)	Gilbert Arenas (5.1)		Jason Richardson (0.97)
Troy Murphy (11.9)