NBA Draft Prospects: Luke Babbitt, Nevada

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Stats: 21.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 41.6% 3PT, 91.7% FT

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 215 lb, 21 yrs old
  
• Combine: 6'8 3/4" (with shoes), 218 lb, 6'11 1/4" (wingspan)

About Him: Like Paul George of Fresno State, Luke Babbitt is a talented forward from the WAC that has been shooting up draftboards, possibly landing somewhere in the lottery come Thursday night. Babbitt, a McDonald's all-american back in 2008 that had originally committed to Ohio State, doesn't have the upside of a Paul George, but thanks to an impressive showing at the NBA Combine, Babbitt has become one of the hottest prospects this season.

Babbitt's an excellent talent on the offensive end of the floor. Just a shade under 6'9" in shoes, Babbitt is a face-up combo-forward. Where as most combo-forwards are tremendous athletes that are long and rangy, but have neither the ball skills to play on the perimeter or the strength to play strictly in the post, Babbitt is the opposite. His skill set lends itself to being a perimeter player, but he doesn't necessarily have to quickness to be capable of being a three.

Babbitt's game is based around his jumper. He is a terrific shooter, especially in the mid-range and off the dribble, but he has also shown that he has NBA range. He doesn't have a tremendous first step, but he is quite a crafty player, able to use a multitude of jabs and fakes to create space and keep his defender off balance. At odd aspect of Babbitt's game is that he showed more prowess as a shooter off the dribble than off of the catch, but a large part of that could be just how much he had the ball in his hands.

Babbitt isn't only effective on the perimeter. While he will need to add some weight and some strength if he is going to be an effective low-post player, he already has a well developed high post game. He's not a powerful player -- he isn't going to be backing many people down from 15 feet -- but he does have a nice finesse game from the high post, mainly centered around an excellent turnaround jumpshot.

Babbitt is a capable ball-handler in the open floor and while attacking the basket, but he runs into some trouble when he is forced to change direction or when he faces ball pressure. When he does attack the basket, Babbitt shows great body control and decision making, capable of finishing around the rim and drawing a foul or pulling up for a short jumper or a floater.

Coming into the combine, the biggest knock on Babbitt was from the people that didn't think he would be a good enough athlete to warrant a pick in the teens. Babbitt put that theory to rest with an excellent visit to the draft combine. His max vert was an impressive 37.5" and his wingspan was 6'11 1/4", both two inches more than Blake Griffin tested out at last season. He also showed above average quickness and speed in the shuttle run and 3/4 sprint during the combine. Safe to say, Babbitt put some of the athleticism fears behind him.

But there are still those that aren't convinced. The biggest concern with Babbitt as a prospect seems to be what position he will be able to guard. He's not exactly quick enough on the perimeter to defend twos and threes, but he needs to add quite a bit of strength if he is going to be a post defender at the NBA Level.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: A more athletic Troy Murphy in terms of offensive skill set, but I'm not sure that Babbitt will be able to get 10 rpg. I also like the comparison with Rashard Lewis, although I think Lewis might be a bit taller than Babbitt.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: Adam Morrison. If Babbitt can't defend anyone and can't get his shot off, where will he be able to play?
  

Outlook: Everyone knows that defense wins championships. The biggest concern with Babbitt is who he is going to be able to defend in the NBA. The answer might very well be no one. But Babbitt is such a gifted player offensively, I find it very hard to believe he can't land a role somewhere. As a four, he can help to stretch the floor and open up the paint, and he absolutely has the range and the perimeter ability to be a weapon on the offensive end of the floor. There are plenty of guys in the NBA that can't defend but have hung around -- and made quite a bit of money -- because they can put the ball in the basket. Babbitt may never be a starter in the league, but with his offensive skill set, he should be able to stick around the league for a while.

Highlights:





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It's All About the Flow: Volume 2

Since my inital entry on the subject of college basketball hairdos, I realized it was necessary for me to follow up on this intriguing subject as hairdos come and go like viral videos. After all, there are over 300 basketball teams in Division I hoops, and with at least 10 players on each team, that makes for a lot of different hairdos. And a ton of more research for yours truly.

Let me be honest. I don't consider myself knowledgeable when it comes to fashion or style. I don't know what colors match what, the best hairstyle for each season, or the difference between a "bob" and a "tease". I thinks capes and cloaks should become socially acceptable again. I am the last person you should ask if you want to know whether you look good.

But maybe it is because of my deep wealth of knowledge for the inane and the completely unnecessary that makes me the perfect person to research and report on the most marvelous of hairstyles in the college basketball. No other person would go to such lengths to research and find the best pregame videos, or most unheralded big men in the country. Not very many people would go through every official online roster of every college D-1 basketball team in the country in order to create the most complete "All-Name Team" the sport of college hoops had ever seen.

In short, life would still go on and the Earth would still spin if I had not done this peice. Kentucky still would have lost to South Carolina and North Carolina would still make the CBI. But, instead of researching the X's and O's and studying why Bo Ryan's swing offense is so effective, I decided to waste my time wondering how much time Stanley Robinson and Courtney Fortson spend doing their hair.

If you haven't checked out part one, here's your chance: It's All About The Flow, Vol. 1


Luciano De Souza - Idaho

I know I said Alex Richman had the best hair in coolege hoops, but that was before I had finished my research. Consider it done, as this is, hands-down, the best hairdo in hoops. Seeing De Souza makes me feel like I accomplished something, and I did, I found the most rediculous head of hair out there.


What is there to say about this fabulous head of hair. It seriously blows every other hairdo out of the water. Just take a second and marvel at De Souza's lucious hairdo. This really is the only true afro in the college hoops game. Yes, it's less dense than afros ussually are, but look at the volume, look at the height, it's just beautiful.

I have so many questions I want to ask him. How long did it take to grow that out? What type of conditioner do you use? Did it come from your mom or dad's side? Does it ever get dificult to control it on the court? Do personal items ever get lost in it?

Being from South America, you have to imagine that the great footballer Carlos Valderrama was part of the inspiration for this brilliant hairdo. In conclusion, I know I can sleep well at night because I found what I was looking for: the most ridiculous hair in college basketball.


Dwight Buycks - Marquette

I could not find a perfect picture of Mr. Buycks (pronounced Bikes) awesome cornrows. Regardless, I am dubbing Dwight's current hairstyle "The Buyck Tread". You have to look closely, but Buycks cornrows look like the treadmarks made from bike wheels. It's both funky and awesome. Buycks has also been known to wear an arm sleeve or rock high socks and a headband. Style like this needs to be recognized by the press and public more often.


Thanks to Buycks fantastic hairdo, he is quickly becomming my favorite player on the Marquette Warriors Golden Eagles. I know we're all eagerly waiting to see a Dwight Buycks giant cut-out head at the Bradley Center.


Courtney Fortson - Arkansas

What an unexpected look to have for a basketball player. I totally forgot about Fortson during the research portion of the first edition, and I wanted to apoligize for this. Except then I remembered he was suspended for the first 14 games of the season, so then I didn't feel so bad. Whatever, lets move on.

My first reaction to this photo was: I had no idea Fortson played the part of Rick James on the Chappelle Show.


Not only is Fortson one of the best point guards in the SEC, he also owns some of the largest flow in the entire country. Look at how much flow Fortson can rock. You don't see many ballers rocking that much hair.

I'M COURTNEY FORTSON BI**H!


Jonathon Anderson - Rider

I'm not sure what's more surprising about Anderson: the amount of "party" going on in the back of his hairdo, or the fact that he hails from Great Britain.


This junior from London has a pretty baller-ish hairdo. He's rocking well-managed cornrows from front-to-back, plus he's got enough hair curl it up in the back. Someone with less hair, like this, would be forced to let the tiny cornrow-ends dangle. But since Anderson is from Europe he decided to go all "Mozart" in the back, he both protects his hair from others and stays sophisticated. I like it, I really, really like it.


Luke Babbitt - Nevada

He's got some of the greasiest and nastiest hair in the country, but he's also legitimate NBA draft pick, so we won't knock him too heard.


Somebody needs to sit down with Babbitt and tell him that he need's to get rid of the mop top. Seriously, he is making Duke's Kyle Singler look good, and I never ever thought that would be possible. Or at least buy him some conditioner. Or something.


Justin Rutty - Quinnipiac

This is just crazy. Rutty has no remorse for opposing players whatsoever. Try to go up for a rebound against the 6'7, 240lb junior and come down with a facefull of dreadlocks - wild, uncontrollable dreadlocks.


Seriously man, wrap it up. You could take somebody's eye out.


Ryan Evans - Wisconsin

Can you say "John Starks"? Oh man what an awesome hairdo. I just found this one watching the Michigan State v. Wisconsin game this week. Nonetheless, a style like this catapaults you all the way up the rankings to the top-5.


I love this hairdo, absolutely love it. You don't need a ton of bravado to pull this style off. This low, clean-cut flat-top says "hand me that Bel Biv Devoe cassette tape" but not "hand me my bedazzled denim jacket and parachute pants". Ryan Evan's hairdo is classy, stylish and economical. Not overdone, but not undercooked. Keep doing what your doing playa.


Mike Wilder - UC Irvine

Our final selection comes not from research but from the Twitterati. If it was not for BigWestMD, I would have never found this sensational hairdo. I had been looking for a perfect afro all season, and hadn't even come close. Mr. De Souza (see first entry) was close, but Wilder's is spot-on. It's thick, it's robust, and it's utterly brilliant.


This is a real man's afro. Nobody should ever question Mr. Wilder's manhood from now on, because, well, would you mess with somebody rockin' that hairdo? I sure wouldn't. I also wouldn't want sit behind him in class or at the movies.

An afro like this doesn't go unnoticed. Mike and his afro, both freshman at UC-Irvine, were named class president last year, his senior year at Wilson HS in California. He also received the CIF Champion of Character Award.

The afro does have a lot of character.


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WAC Tournament Preview

Schedule (all games at the University of Nevada):

Tuesday, March 10th / First Round
- Game 1: #8 Hawaii vs. #9 Fresno State

Thursday, March 12th / Quarters
- Game 2: #4 Boise State vs. #5 New Mexico State
- Game 3: #1 Utah State vs. Game 1 Winner
- Game 4: #2 Nevada vs. #7 San Jose State
- Game 5: #3 Idaho vs. #6 Louisiana Tech

Friday, March 13th / Semis
- Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 3 Winner
- Game 7: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner

Saturday, March 14th / Finals
- Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner

Favorite: The favorite for this year's WAC tournament has got to be Utah State. The Aggies coasted through most of the regular season, posting a 24-1 record before dropping three of their last six games. Their gaudy record is buoyed a bit by playing a weaker schedule. No 27 win team has ever been kept out of the NCAA tournament, but I think it will be tough for Utah State to grab a bid with an SOS of 134 (although their RPI of 27 is impressive, think back to Missouri State a few years ago who was left out with an RPI of 21). USU is led by 26 year old senior Gary Wilkinson (who is an interesting story), whose 16.9 ppg and 7.1 rpg were enough to earn him conference player of the year honors. Wilkinson does have some talent around him, namely perimeter players Jared Quayle and Tyler Newbold and Wilkinson's front court mate Tai Wesley.

Gary Wilkinson hopes to take the Aggies dancing.
(photo credit: Dean Hare/AP)

Contender: Nevada has to be considered a serious threat to win this thing. For starters, they are the best program in the league, churning out NBA players regularly. This year, they are not as good as they are used to, but the Wolfpack still managed to finish second in the league. They are led by freshman center Luke Babbit, who posted averages of 16.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg, and point guard Armon Johnson, who went for 15.0 ppg and 4.3 apg. But the biggest reason that they should scare USU is that the entire tournament is being played at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

Sleeper: I'm going with Boise State. They are a balanced and experienced team (they have five guys averaging between 9.0 ppg and 12.8 ppg, four of whom are upper-classemen, and all of whom played in the dance last year). They have a possible date with Utah State in the semi's, and if you remember they ended the Aggie's 19 game winning streak on Valentine's Day, the last time these two teams met.

BIAH's Pick: Nevada. Continue reading...