Giles leaves Nevada hoop program

RENO - The Nevada Wolf Pack's backcourt has gotten a little less crowded.

Nevada media services director Rhonda Lundin said Thursday that sophomore point guard London Giles has left the program and will transfer to another school.

The 6-foot-3 Giles, from Dallas played sparingly in his two years with the Wolf Pack. He played just a total of 46 games (no starts) in two years with a combined playing time of just 254 total minutes.

Giles averaged 1.1 points a game in his 18 appearances during his freshman year in 2008-09 and 0.8 points in his 28 games in 2009-10. The guard had 27 assists in his two years with 30 turnovers and made just 11-of-40 field goals (4-of-22 on 3-pointers).

Giles' best game last season was his six-assist performance against Wagner on Dec. 19. He also scored six points against Tulsa on Dec. 23. He scored his last point for the Pack on Jan. 16 against Idaho.

Giles' departure means that six players off last year's team have left the program. Joey Shaw, Brandon Fields and Ray Kraemer were seniors and Luke Babbitt (sophomore) and Armon Johnson (junior) left to enter June's NBA Draft.

Lundin said that Johnson, the starting point guard the last three seasons, has already hired an agent and Babbitt is close to doing so.

The Wolf Pack has added recruits Deonte Burton (6-foot-1) and Derrell Conner (6-foot) to compete for the starting point guard role in 2010-11. Another recruit, Jordan Finn (6-4), also could see time at the point.

The NCAA limits the amount of scholarship players on the roster to 13. The Pack currently has 14 players (not all are on scholarship) on its roster. Pack head coach David Carter said recently that he would like to add a forward that has the "ability to score inside and out," and help replace Babbitt.

A player that might have been able to fill that role is 6-8 forward Phillip Jackson of Hyde Park Academy in Chicago. Phillips, who gave the Pack a verbal commitment, will not join the Pack next season and will likely play at a junior college, Lundin said.