Recruiting

Syracuse basketball recruiting: 5-star Class of 2016 prospect Tyus Battle commits to Syracuse

Five-star Class of 2016 prospect Tyus Battle has committed to Syracuse, he announced on Twitter Monday morning. ESPN first reported the news.

In an intriguing turn of events, the former Michigan commit previously declared his recruitment was closed. But now, he sides with the Orange after opening his recruitment back up in mid-June. This puts SU over the allotted number of 10 scholarships for the 2016-17 season as Battle is the 11th. Now, the Orange will have to get scholarships back in the appeal or free up a scholarship with a transfer or early departure to the NBA Draft.

Battle told ESPN he rushed his decision to commit to Michigan in May and said SU told him he could handle the ball a lot. He ended up choosing Syracuse over Michigan, Louisville, Virginia, Kentucky and UConn.

He is the No. 27 player in ESPN’s Class of 2016 rankings and told ESPN the announcement to give Mike Hopkins the head coaching job when Jim Boeheim retired played into his decision.

“It mattered,” Battle told ESPN. “He’s a great guy who will be a terrific head coach. He’s high-energy, and I’m very comfortable and confident in Coach Hop.”



Battle now joins Matthew Moyer, who has been recruiting the New Jersey product relentlessly, as the other verbal commit in the Class of 2016.





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