'08 NV PF Luke Babbitt (Nevada Verbal)

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by wadc45

Hell, with Babbitt and Koufos both stretching the D, guys like Lauderdale should be able to sit under the basket without a defender within 10 feet...

[dream]Maybe Oden will stick around...[/dream]

I don't envision our teams having any trouble scoring over the next couple years and I do envision just about every team we play having trouble matching up with us.

I mean who can go 7', 7'2'', 6'8'' across the frontline...

Then have two quick, great shooters, and great defenders in the backcourt. We will have no problem matching up with anyone and other teams will have trouble against us. Also the depth will be great when we actually get the full alotted 13 scholarship players on the roster.

Also don't forget that we have Madsen who is going to be a solid player and he has size too...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Luke Babbitt , a 6-foot-8, 215-pound high-school junior from Reno, Nev., whose playing style reminds some of former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison, is one of the highest-rated basketball recruits in the class of 2008. He recently narrowed his list of schools he is considering to five, and one of them came out of nowhere.

Two weeks ago, Ohio State "called me and said that they heard that I was from Ohio and that they wanted to start recruiting me," Babbitt told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "That was real exciting for me because I grew up a fan of Ohio State. I?ve rooted for them ever since I started watching basketball."

Babbitt lived in Cincinnati before moving to Nevada when he was in elementary school. He has grown into a player that the Hoop Scoop recruiting service rates No. 5 overall in his class. One spot ahead of him is 6-8 Delvon Roe of Lakewood St. Edward, whom the Buckeyes also are recruiting to play the same forward position.

Babbitt?s other four finalists are Nevada, UCLA, Arizona and Gonzaga. He eliminated Stanford, Washington, Kansas, Texas, Illinois and Duke from consideration.
"I have no idea who I will choose," he said. "I like all five."

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$

Nevada, Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga and Ohio State are his final five schools. He claims no leader and wants to take some visits to each school before deciding.

[DaytonBuck]

Any word on a timetable for a decision?

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Any word on a timetable for a decision?

Next fall, he wants to visit each school before making a decision.

[wadc45]

Scout $

12/6

19 points in a 59-56 win against Reno.

[wadc45]

LINK

Galena High's Luke Babbitt dunks during the Grizzlies? game against Reno High on Tuesday night at Galena. Babbitt led all scorers with 19 points in the Grizzlies? 59-56 victory. The game featured the last two teams (Reno last season and Galena in 2004-05) to win the Northern 4A Regional titles. The Huskies went on to win the state title last season. (ANDY BARRON/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL)

Babbitt-led Galena keeps Reno at bay
Joe Santoro (JSANTORO@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
December 6, 2006

Advantage Galena Grizzlies.
"This was a great start to a great rivalry," Galena coach Tom Maurer said Tuesday after his Grizzlies turned back the Reno Huskies, 59-56, at Galena.
The early-season, non-league game in front of a packed gym at Galena was a matchup of the last two Northern 4A Regional champs.
"They are the defending state champions," Galena junior Luke Babbitt said. "They are where we want to get."
It took Galena until the final three minutes to get to where they wanted to be against Reno. With the game tied at 51-51, Galena's Brice Crook and Babbitt each scored inside for a 55-51 lead. A pair of free throws by Crook and Babbitt in the final seconds gave the Grizzlies a 59-53 lead.
"In the beginning of the game we gave up too many easy baskets," said Babbitt, who led all scorers with 19 points. "But after that we got back to playing Galena basketball."
The first quarter was definitely not Galena basketball despite a 22-20 lead after eight minutes.
"No, not at all," Maurer said. "We had very poor shot selection and we gave them too many easy shots."
Galena (1-1) took a 30-22 lead with five minutes to go in the second quarter. Point guard J.D. Peters put back an offensive rebound for a 28-20 lead, and Babbitt drove the lane for a 30-22 lead.
Reno, though, promptly went on a 13-0 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter and the first three minutes of the third quarter. Guard Austin Morgan, who had five 3-pointers in the game and finished with 17 points, hit a pair of threes to jumpstart the comeback. Casey Brown also hit a big 3-pointer, and Zach Smith scored inside as Reno took a 33-30 halftime lead.
The Huskies made 14-of-29 shots in the first half.
"We didn't do a good job on the boards," Maurer said. "Reno had nine offensive rebounds in the first half."
The Huskies, though, went cold in the third quarter, missing 10 of their 12 field goal attempts as Galena took a 42-39 lead into the final quarter.
"You probably heard me screaming," said Maurer of his animated timeouts on the Galena bench. "And the kids did a great job of listening."
Eric Maupin scored inside with five minutes to play in the third quarter, ending a seven-minute Galena scoring drought. Tristan Hill then hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 35, and J.D. Peters drove to the basket to tie the game at 37. A Babbitt 3-pointer with 1:30 to play in the third quarter gave Galena a 40-37 lead, and Peters stole the ball from Morgan at midcourt and drove in for the layup for a 42-39 lead.
"We're never going to have an easy game this year," Maurer said. "We know that. Sports Illustrated mentioned us (as one of the top teams in the country in their Nov. 27 issue). Teams want to beat us to make their season."
Galena opened up a 47-42 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Hill and a pair of free throws by Peters. But Reno (2-2) fought back, tying the game at 51 on a 3-pointer by Brown and a basket inside by Roger Carlson.
The Grizzlies, though, put the game away in the final three minutes as Babbitt and Crook (14 points) went inside.
"This was a great game for both teams," Maurer said. "Win or lose, both teams came out of this game with a lot of notes."

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$

Babbitt is down to Ohio State, Nevada, Gonzaga, UCLA and Arizona. Luke would like to take some unofficial visits but that will depend on his schedule. He possibly could make a decision at some point this summer.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

Grizzlies lose to two top teams

The Galena High boys basketball team continued its meat grinder of a schedule by playing two California powers at the Westchester Tournament in Los Angeles.

In a game that didn't begin until 10:10 p.m., the Grizzlies fell to Westchester, ranked No. 13 in the nation, 73-54 on Thursday and then they lost to Compton Dominguez 70-56 on Friday. Galena was able to stay close with both teams for a half before both teams pulled away in the second half.

Against Westchester, Galena was playing a team that has never lost in the 17 years of its tournament. But the Grizzlies trailed just 27-25 only because Westchester was able to hit three-pointers at the end of the first and second quarters.

"I'm excited because our kids are in the 20s," Galena coach Tom Mauer said. "That's Mauer ball.

"I thought for a half it was outstanding Galena basketball. It was our pace, our tempo. We took care of the basketball. I was so proud of the kids."

But in the second half, it appeared Galena's long day took its toll. The Grizzlies left on a plane at 3:50 p.m. for the 10:10 game. "We're tired," Mauer said. "We're exhausted."

Against Dominguez, Galena was playing a team that was coming off an upset 63-60 loss against Sun Valley Poly in a game in which Dominguez blew a 21-4 lead. Galena trailed just 33-29 at halftime before Dominguez was able to pull away in the second half.

"It was the most physical game I've ever seen with the most phenomenal athletes," Mauer said.

Luke Babbitt scored 27 points against Westchester and 25 against Dominguez. Among those at the tournament to watch Babbitt were UCLA coach Ben Howland. UCLA is one of the final five schools on Babbitt's list. "Luke's been phenomenal," Mauer said. "He's been a great team leader."

Mauer also praised point guard J.D. Peters, who has been averaging about 12 points and has done a solid job of handling the pressure defenses he's face.

Galena will conclude play in the tournament today. Then Galena will play two more nationally ranked teams in its George Maldonado Tournament next week, No. 2 Artesia of Southern California and No. 8 Arlington Country Day of Florida.

"We've played a scheduled that's been unbelievable," Mauer said. "We're playing four nationally ranked teams in seven days."

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$

Scout On The Road: December 15th Update......

Babbitt is called the best post prospect in the west. Luke can score from the inside and from the perimeter.

[BrutusBobcat]

Am I right in thinking that the last spot in this class will go to whoever pulls the trigger first between Gates, Babbitt and Roe? That's not a bad problem to have. From the Gates thread, it sounds like he's also looking at a summer decision, and Roe has been close to committing. Thinking about the '07 needs, I like the fact that we're in on Babbitt, though the distance may make it a little hard to Matta and Co. to show him as much "love" as they're able to do for the Ohio guys.

If Cook goes to the NBA, would Matta take two of those guys?

[starBUCKS]

It's a good situation to be in... personally I'd like Roe then Babbitt then Gates.... but would be happy with any of the three.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by BrutusBobcat

Am I right in thinking that the last spot in this class will go to whoever pulls the trigger first between Gates, Babbitt and Roe? That's not a bad problem to have. From the Gates thread, it sounds like he's also looking at a summer decision, and Roe has been close to committing. Thinking about the '07 needs, I like the fact that we're in on Babbitt, though the distance may make it a little hard to Matta and Co. to show him as much "love" as they're able to do for the Ohio guys.

If Cook goes to the NBA, would Matta take two of those guys?

I think that is the consensus feeling at the moment...

Also to get a 5th guy in 08 the staff has to bank on Cook leaving...

2 will still be here from 06, 5 from 07, and 5 from 08 to go along with Madsen = 13...

[HabaneroBuck]

Link

Babbitt scored 40 points against Jacksonville Arlington Country Day (a perennial power). 15-16 from the line and 3 threes. His team won and will play Lakewood Artesia today.

[crazybuckfan40]

From the sounds of it, he is really stepping up his game this year and is only a junior. Should be interesting to see in what direction is recruiting goes in terms of us...Alot will depend on the staffs feeling for Roe IMO...