Babbitt shines in all-star game

Galena High School's Luke Babbitt closed out his high school playing career in style Saturday, scoring 14 points in the Adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic at Freedom Hall, in Louisville, Ky.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Babbitt, who will play for the Nevada Wolf Pack next season, was a member of the Gold Squad, which lost 127-121 to the Black Squad.

Babbitt, Nevada's all-time high school career points leader with 2,941, also played in the McDonald's All-American High School Game and was recently named to the EA Sports All-American team.

"There was some good defense - it was fun to watch," said Grizzlies coach Tom Maurer, who made the trip to watch Babbitt's last game before he plays for Nevada coach Mark Fox. "(Unlike the McDonald's game) the players were earning their points instead of doing (dunks)."

Babbitt hit a pair of 3-pointers and was 2-for-2 from the foul line.

"He played probably the best game I've seen him play in a long time," Maurer said of Babbitt, who averaged 31.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in his senior season. "They shared the ball and ran good stuff. The kids, for the most part, took good shots and they wanted to win."

Maurer said Babbitt didn't start, as two of the players will be playing for Louisville next season got the nod instead. There was a total of four McDonald's All-Americans on the two teams.

"I am so proud of him - between the McDonald's game and summer ball and tonight, when you just see him, well, the kid can play."

In addition to many other accolades, Babbitt helped guide Galena to its first state championship in 2007 and was also named to the Parade All-American squad.