Working on the same floor where this past June’s No. 1 Draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns, former Duke and Bulls guard Jay Williams and former NBA All-Star center Andrew Bynum hooped as high school seniors, Syracuse-commit Tyus Battle looks to close out his prep career this season following his transfer to St. Joseph HS this summer.
After averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a sophomore at Gill St. Bernard’s, where he spent his first three years, the 6-6 shooting guard missed the majority of his junior year dealing with a stress fracture in his right foot before going on to miss just about his entire AAU season rehabbing.
The last time Syracuse made it to the Final Four, it featured a lineup composed of tall guards, including 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams. Having drawn some comparisons to the former Orange for his playmaking abilities at his size, Syracuse fans are hoping for similar results. But before that, the perimeter sniper, who has seen a dip in the debatable national rankings from not being on the floor much the past year, wants to make one last statement at the prep level.
“I’m not worried about rankings, but I definitely have a chip on my shoulder after not playing last year,” says Battle. “I want to go out there and perform well and prove to everybody I belong out there with the best. I’ll let my game back it up.”
—
Video by Charlie Chalkin/charliechalkinproductions.com
