'08 NV PF Luke Babbitt (Nevada Verbal)

[osugrad21]

'08 NV PF Luke Babbitt
Scout Profile


Power forward
Reno (NV) Galena
AAU: Las Vegas Prospects
Ht: 6-foot-8
Wt: 215 lbs
Class: 2008 (High School)


Link Babbitt carves list of potential schools to five

JOE SANTORO
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 11/14/2006

There is a surprise late entry into the Luke Babbitt sweepstakes.
The Galena High junior basketball player said Monday night that he has narrowed his list of possible college choices to five. But one of the five wasn't even in the forward's final 10.
The 6-foot-7 Babbitt said his final five includes Nevada, UCLA, Arizona, Gonzaga and Ohio State. Ohio State is the surprise school that jumped on the Babbitt bandwagon just two weeks ago.
"They called me and said that they heard that I was from Ohio and that they wanted to start recruiting me," said Babbitt, who is from Cincinnati. "That was real exciting for me because I grew up a fan of Ohio State."
Babbitt, one of the most highly recruited players in the country, narrowed his list of potential colleges to 10 a month ago. He eliminated Stanford, Washington, Kansas, Texas, Illinois and Duke from the list this week.
"I think they all appreciated that I told them as soon as possible so they could start looking at other players," Babbitt said.
Babbitt said he can now concentrate solely on this year's Galena High season.
"Hopefully this will eliminate a lot of the phone calls and text messages," Babbitt said. "I just really want to concentrate and focus on our season coming up. I might make one or two visits to a couple of those schools (Ohio State, UCLA, Arizona or Gonzaga) just to see them in a game but my focus now is on our season."
Babbitt said UCLA, Arizona, Gonzaga and Nevada were among the first schools to start recruiting him. He has gone to camps at Arizona and UCLA over the past two summers.
Ohio State is the only school on Babbitt's Final Five not located in the western United States.
"I've rooted for them ever since I started watching basketball," Babbitt said. "But all five are equal to me right now. I have no idea who I will choose. I like all five and I would feel real comfortable at any of them."
Babbitt was named the Northern 4A Region's Co-Player of the Year last year along with Hug's Armon Johnson. Johnson, a senior, signed a letter of intent last week to play at Nevada.

[MaxBuck]

As Eric Idle would say, "And now, for something completely different."

[wadc45]

I would say I am surprised, but then again with Thad, not much shocks me anymore...

Here are some free scouting reports on Luke:

7/22/06
Luke Babbitt, 2008 ? Reno, Nevada's finest said he is hearing the most from UCLA, Duke, Arizona (offer), Washington (offer) and Gonzaga. Babbitt said there is a possibility that he could "make a decision this summer but more than likely I'll wait until after the season." There is an unofficial visit in the works, too. Babbitt said he will be at the Texas-Ohio State football game in Austin. The Longhorns have offered as have Illinois, Michigan, Syracuse and Nevada.

7/7/06
College coaches are always on the lookout for big men who can shoot from the outside and they are beating down the door for 2008 prospect Luke Babbitt. The 6-foot-8 forward showed on Thursday afternoon that he has a sweet touch from the outside, connecting on several three pointers.

6/21/06
Luke Babbitt vs. Herb Pope
This combo forward battle came out a draw as both players did a nice job of guarding each other. Neither player was able to get to the rim on the dribble. Pope had a nice move on the baseline for a pull up jumper, and Babbitt made some nice cuts into the interior to pick up points. Both players also knocked down a three-pointer.

5/24/06
Luke Babbitt, Reno (Nev.) Galena
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-8
College choice: Undecided
Cactus Classic stats (7 games): 16 pts, 6.8 reb, 1 stl

It will be difficult to find a more polished combo forward in the 2008 class than Luke Babbitt.

An efficient player, Babbitt has a great feel for the game as a combo forward. He knows how to move without the ball and is a patented scorer in a couple ways. He scores with his back to the basket with quality footwork and a tough lefty jump hook. Then he can step out well beyond the arc and stroke the three-pointer. As a good offensive rebounder, he also comes up with a lot of put backs.

A good position defender, Babbitt does need to improve his lateral quickness in guarding the perimeter. As a rebounder, Babbitt is not an explosive leaper, but he maintains great position and has extremely sure hands.

5/20/06
The Las Vegas Prospects are playing very solid ball as they went through their pool play undefeated behind the five-star caliber play of 2008 combo forward Luke Babbitt. The versatile lefty has led the Prospect in scoring in all three pool play games with 24, 18, and 16 points.

Although his release is a little slow, Babbitt has been continuously draining outside shots with his smooth stroke and taking defenders off the dribble from the perimeter. Looking every bit like a big time small forward, Babbitt listed Texas, Duke, Washington (offer), UCLA, Arizona, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Syracuse (offer) and Nevada (offer) as schools of interest.

5/4/06
Luke Babbitt, PF, Reno (Nev.) Galena
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 215 pounds

Multifaceted left-handed forward Luke Babbitt averaged 10.5 points and six rebounds for the USA team in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany and then came home to help the Las Vegas Prospects win the Double Pump Spring Classic.

An excellent post up player, Babbitt knows how to physically seal off his man, has exceptional footwork and can finish with touch to either shoulder. As a rebounder he hunts down the ball. He is also a threat facing the basket where he can both put it on the floor and shoot the three.

Defensively, Babbitt works hard to keep the ball out of his man's hands in the post, since he is not a huge shot blocking threat. On the perimeter, he is a capable defender, but he does have room to improve his lateral quickness.

[wadc45]

Added Scout Profile to his bio post...Luke is a 5-star PF by Scout and rated the #10 PF in the nation.

Free Video

Originally Posted by Scout Bio

Very skilled lefty who can play inside or on the perimeter. Excellent low-post game. Nice shot to the stripe. Very good feel for the game. Potential elite prospect.

[Bucky Katt]

FWIW, Rivals has him as a 4* prospect, #28 overall, and the #14 PF.

Rivals Profile

[OSUBucks22]

This kid is a lot like Kyle Singler, who just committed to Duke in the '07 class... Complete game. He'd be a great get for tOSU...

[wadc45]

Could you imagine an '08 class of Buford, Mullens, Offutt, Crater and Babbitt? Talk about a class nearly as strong and complete as the '06 class. How many 'ships are we looking at handing out in '08? If we had five to give, that would be unreal...

C - Mullens
3/4 - Babbitt
2/3 - Buford
Combo guard - Offutt
PG - Crater

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by wadc45

Could you imagine an '08 class of Buford, Mullens, Offutt, Crater and Babbitt? Talk about a class nearly as strong and complete as the '06 class. How many 'ships are we looking at handing out in '08? If we had five to give, that would be unreal...

C - Mullens
3/4 - Babbitt
2/3 - Buford
Combo guard - Offutt
PG - Crater

Well right now it looks as if we have 4/5 to give, depending on if Cook would stay for his junior year(highly unlikely IMO)

We have 9 on the team. Lewis and Harris are gone. That gives us 7 (unless Oden leaves)

So with 6 coming in that gives us 13. Madsen will be allowed to play next year. If Oden leaves 12 and if Cook leaves 11.

Then after the 07' season Butler, Twig and Hunter are seniors so we lose 3. That gives us probably 10 returning. But my guess by then is that Oden and Cook are for sure gone by then. That would give us 8 giving us 5 to give.

So yes that class would be amazing and it would fill all of our needs...

[OSUBucks22]

The thing that I'm wondering is if this is an indication of how the staff feels about its chances with Delvon Roe...

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by OSUBucks22

The thing that I'm wondering is if this is an indication of how the staff feels about its chances with Delvon Roe...

IMO not good at all...

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

IMO not good at all...

Gates and Babbitt certainly are fantastic options 2A and 2B...I think Babbitt has a chance to be a fantastic college player.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

The thing that I'm wondering is if this is an indication of how the staff feels about its chances with Delvon Roe...

I think the staff is not putting all their apples in the same basket so to speak.....Most feel we are in the lead for Gates at this point. It only makes sense to go after Babbitt if their is mutual interest.

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by OSUBasketballJunkie

I think the staff is not putting all their apples in the same basket so to speak.....Most feel we are in the lead for Gates at this point. It only makes sense to go after Babbitt if their is mutual interest.

I think the tough question to answer at this point is, if by some chance this is how things play out and you are left with one 'ship for either Gates or Babbitt...who do you take? I really like Yancey, especially with the work he does defensively and on the glass, but I think I would have to go with Luke...he reminds me of Chris Bosh.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I think the tough question to answer at this point is, if by some chance this is how things play out and you are left with one 'ship for either Gates or Babbitt...who do you take? I really like Yancey, especially with the work he does defensively and on the glass, but I think I would have to go with Luke...he reminds me of Chris Bosh.

It would be a nice problem to have, choosing between those two. I would have to go with Gates at this point. My opinion is that Gates is that physical presence that Ohio State will need in the 2008 class.

[crazybuckfan40]

After watching his video, he reminds me a lot of Troy Murphy. Played at Notre Dame and his now in the NBA playing for the Golden St. Warriors.

Overall I agree with Junkie that Gates is higher on the board and I think the physical nature of his play more than Babbitt, who seems to me of your 3/4 mix than the 4/5 mix.