Syracuse star guard Tyus Battle will declare for the 2019 NBA Draft after suffering a loss to the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The junior guard has played his last game for the Orange. There were some fans and experts expecting Battle to come back for his senior season while others expected him to jump to the NBA a year early.
Tyus Battle leaving Syracuse basketball team for NBA draft https://t.co/EyUX8XGGlb
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) March 22, 2019
Battle had the following to say about his three years playing with the team. “Syracuse means so much, I think about it every day. Coming here as a freshman, I didn’t know what to expect. My time here so far has been amazing. Some big games. It’s been a roller-coaster. I’ve seen it all and it’s been a great learning experience.’’
TYUS BATTLE CALLED GAME ?? pic.twitter.com/KfmLSytn13
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) December 8, 2018
The junior Orange star should see his name called somewhere in the second round in the 2019 NBA Draft. This move may have come a year early because of the projected talent expected to enter the 2020 NBA Draft.
Tyus Battle averaged 17.2 points per game with a field goal percentage of about 43. This is slightly down from his average last year which was 19.2 on 39.9 percent from the field. He will provide great size for an NBA team at the guard position. Battle is listed at six feet and six inches tall. Head Coach Jim Boeheim will be disappointed to lose his best player a year early but will look to bounce back in the ACC next year.
Battle now has to work hard for an NBA combine invite to further impress teams and convince them to take a chance on him in the second round.
