Tyus Battle is expected to be the lone junior on hand for Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness tonight, and he’s already looking to cut down his list in December.
Kentucky figures to be a safe bet to make the list for the 6-foot-6 junior guard from Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard’s who is ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2016 by ESPN.com.
“Coach Cal is an amazing guy,” Battle told SNY.tv in reference to Kentucky’s John Calipari. “He keeps it real with you. He produces a lot of pros, develops his guys really well, and it’s a winning program.”
Battle said he likes Calipari’s approach to recruiting.
“He gets rid of a lot of the fluff from my recrutitment,” he said. “He’s s straightforward guy, he’s really straightforward.”
Kentucky, the newly minted preseason No. 1 team in the coaches’ poll, will also host 2015 studs Carlton Bragg, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Malik Newman and Stephen Zimmerman, along with their lone 2015 pledge, Charles Matthews.
Gary Battle, Tyus’s father, remains impressed with Calipari because he believes he truly cares for his players. As an example, Calipari has said he will try to play 10-12 guys in a platoon system this year because he said he owes it to his players.
“Kentucky is unbelievable,” Gary said. “I mean, 19 guys int he NBA in what, the past four years or so? It’s unimaginable what he’s done but Cal is a brilliant man in terms of the way he runs Kentucky basketball. But he makes that brand work for him in terms of branding Kentucky basketball.
“But he really cares about his kids. That’s the one thing I’ve learned with Cal through this process. He really, really cares about his kids.”
Battle is being recruited by virtually every major program in the country, with Duke, Syracuse, Louisville, UConn, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida among those in the mix. Louisville coach Rick Pitino was in on Wednesday to see Battle for a second time.
Battle also visited Syracuse last weekend for the Florida State football game and will trip to Duke next weekend for their Midnight Madness.
A talented combo guard who is still only 17, Battle has a very high ceiling.
“He has a huge upside because he’s just growing into his body, he has a very young body,” longtime New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski told SNY.tv. “He’s 6-5 and he’s just getting his legs. He’s not explosively quick, and his legs are getting stronger. He’s a very skilled player with size. He’s a 6-5 guard who can really shoot the ball. His body’s not finished. He has so much higher of an improvement curve than so many of the other players who are physically mature.
“I mean, the sky’s the limit for him because of his skill level, his basketball IQ and his right now somewhat callow frame that’s only going to get stronger and more athletic.”
Battle is already listed in some 2017 NBA Mock Drafts, but says he doesn’t let that clutter his head.
“I truthfully don’t even look at that stuff too much,” he said. “I really don’t pay attention to it too much because it’s just stuff going into the back of your head and keeping you off track.
“Whatever happens, happens.”
Still, he says, his ultimate goal is to one day reach the NBA.
“Going pro, that’s the ultimate goal,” he said, “and if I accomplish it that would be amazing.”
