RENO, Nev. — Nevada basketball coach David Carter said Tuesday he anticipates sophomore forward Luke Babbitt and junior guard Armon Johnson will play for the Wolf Pack again next season but doubts Babbitt will be back for his senior year.

He also said Johnson still could decide to enter the NBA’s 2010 draft if it appears likely he would be a first-round pick.
The two former Reno-area prep stars were all-Western Athletic Conference first-team selections a year ago and Babbitt is this year’s preseason favorite for the WAC’s most valuable player.
The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game this season.
“I don’t think Luke will be here four years,” Carter said in answer to a question from one of about 250 boosters at his monthly coach’s luncheon at a Reno hotel-casino on Tuesday.
“I’ll be surprised if he stays here for four years. I think he will come back one more year and see what happens,” he said.
Johnson, who at 6-foot-3 has played both the point and off guard, is averaging 16 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game. He intends to evaluate his situation at the end of the season.
“He has to find out what the NBA people are saying,” Carter said. “If he is going to be a first-round pick, I think he will come out. If not, I think he’ll be back for his senior year.”
Nevada’s JaVale McGee entered the draft after his sophomore season a year ago and Ramon Sessions did so after his junior season in 2007. Both were first-round picks. McGee plays for the Washington Wizards and Sessions for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Carter said he’s heard nothing to indicate either Johnson or Babbitt is determined to bolt for the NBA at the end of this season.
“Armon and Luke both talk about coming back,” he said. “It’s not like they are one foot in one foot out. That is not the case at all.”
Carter said some of that speculation could be based on the fact he sometimes allows NBA scouts to attend practices.
“NBA scouts have come to our practice to evaluate the kids, evaluate their demeanor, their character. They talk to their teammates,” he said. “You give a kid $1 million, you better come see him practice. If you don’t, you’re stupid.”
Nevada (2-3) plays Friday night at Pacific (4-1).
Carter said his team has played well at times but a lack of depth, especially in the backcourt, has been apparent in three tough road losses at No. 24 UNLV, Virginia Commonwealth and No. 10 North Carolina.
He said North Carolina coach Roy Williams was very gracious after the Tar Heels rallied to beat the Wolf Pack 80-73 on Sunday. He said Williams told him: “You have a really good team ... You guys are going to be really good.”
“He said, `I thought you guys beat us tonight. We had some players who stepped up and played well. I mean this sincerely, you have a very good team,”’ Carter recalled.
As far as a rematch down the road, Carter said the Tar Heels have turned down Nevada’s most recent bid for another three-game series like the last one that saw the Wolf Pack host one game and travel to Chapel Hill for two others.
“Roy almost had a heart attack,” Carter said. “I don’t know if he wants to play again.”