RaeQuan Battle had an eventual 2023.
Battle transferred from Montana State to West Virginia after head coach Danny Sprinkle left for Utah State. After just two months at West Virginia, Battle had to make another decision once Bob Huggins resigned following a DUI arrest. WVU promoted assistant Josh Eilert into an interim role and Battle decided to stay along with Jesse Edwards, Kerr Kriisa and others.
Since Battle was a multi-time undergraduate transfer, he had to sit out with a waiver from the NCAA. With the help from seven states going up against the NCAA, Judge Preston John Bailey granted a temporary restraining order, granting all multi-time transfers the ability to play without the need of a waiver. This gave Battle immediate eligibility with West Virginia starting on Dec. 13.
Battle has wasted no time during his final year of playing eligibility with West Virginia. In his first three games, Battle is averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals. The 6-foot-5 guard won back-to-back Big 12 Player of the Week awards. WVU has gone 1-2 during that span, including close losses to Radford and Ohio State.
Battle, along with Kriisa, Edwards, Noah Farrakhan and Quinn Slazinski, look to make things interesting in the Big 12, despite West Virginia being three games under .500. Battle has reflected a lot during his time returning for the Mountaineers.
“Relieved more than anything. I’m happy to be out here,” Battle said after the Radford loss. “It’s been a long summer, one of the longest in my life for sure. It’s good to get out there with the team and go to war.”
“It’s been amazing. I felt like I had a whole army behind me, especially West Virginia and the fans in general. Since I touched down in Morgantown during the summer it’s been love ever since. Especially now, going at the NCAA and all that stuff. It was different but it’s cool,” he added.
Battle is currently the No. 1 transfer in TPR’s DUNK system, based on fantasy points per game.
