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Luke Babbitt is staying home after all.
Babbitt, the junior All-American from Galena High School, has opted out of his verbal agreement with Ohio State University and will play basketball in 2008 for his hometown, the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, according to Galena basketball coach Tom Mauer.
The earliest Babbitt can sign a letter of intent is November.
Babbitt, who was not immediately available for comment, originally chose Ohio State over Nevada, UCLA, Arizona and Gonzaga. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds a game this year to lead the Grizzlies to the 4A NIAA state championship after averaging 24 points and 8.6 rebounds as a sophomore.
Neither Ohio State nor Nevada, under NCAA rules, can talk about Babbitt.
"I think it's good," Mauer said. "I think he got caught up in the fact that his grandparents live in Ohio and the Ohio State ties that he has."
Mauer pointed out that Babbitt is good kid who doesn't smoke or drink and is very family oriented.
"I think he wants to play in front of his family and be by his friends," Mauer said.