Nevada sophomore Babbitt leaving for NBA draft

 Nevada sophomore Luke Babbitt says he has hired an agent and is forgoing his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2010 NBA draft.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward who was named an honorable mention All-American this year by The Associated Press says in a statement released by the university Tuesday that he wants to pursue his lifelong dream of playing pro basketball.

Babbitt says it was a difficult decision. The Western Athletic Conference's player of the year ranked ninth in the nation in scoring this past season, averaging 21.9 points per game.