After the transfer of a pair of players, the defection of Chris McCullough, and the loss of Thomas Bryant to Indiana, the mood surrounding Syracuse basketball had soured. But the race for ’16 PG Tyus Battle should have Orange fans picking up their spirits.
Battle’s father Gary tells Syracuse.com that he’s been impressed with Jim Boeheim’s involvement in the recruitment. The way this usually works for highly-sought after recruits is assistants start watching a player in high school, and reach out to him with an offer as he rises through his high school years. The assistants usually fly everywhere to be in front of the player and his family. When it appears the school is down the home stretch and needs one final boost, the head coach drops in to try to seal the deal. But apparently Boeheim has been front and center on Battle, which is great.
This is an important month for him. He has two visits already scheduled to Louisville Duke. After the loss of Bryant, you couldn’t help but wonder if recruit’s families were concerned about the NCAA sanctions.
“Gary Battle said the family never worried about the availability of a Syracuse scholarship for Tyus. Nor is the family concerned with SU’s five-year NCAA probationary period. The Battles were wary of future Syracuse bans in NCAA Tournaments and were relieved when the NCAA levied no further postseason sanctions against the Orange.”
That’s music to SU’s ears. Battle would be an enormous addition to a program with big time talent coming in, but also trying to steady itself during probation.
Posted: D.A.
