Former Nevada standout Luke Babbitt was assigned to the Idaho Stampede by the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Babbitt, a Galena High graduate, has appeared in eight regular season games for the Trail Blazers, who acquired him on a draft-night deal with Minnesota. Selected by the Timberwolves in the first round (16th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Babbitt averaged 14.2 points and 2.8 rebounds with Portland in five NBA Summer League games.
An early entry candidate for the 2010 NBA Draft, Babbitt averaged 19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 68 games over two seasons at Nevada.
If Babbitt is still with the team in a little more than three weeks, he will return to Reno as a visitor when the Stampede play the Reno Bighorns on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.