Tyus Battle is headed to Syracuse Saturday for the Duke game and he cannot wait.
“It’s going to be ridiculous with Duke coming in and the first time playing them in the ACC,” the 6-foot-5 2016 Gill St. Bernard’s guard told SNY.tv this weekend. “It’s going to be great.”
Battle has been to Syracuse three times before but never for a game.
“It’s going to be a great trip,” he said. “I’m going with my dad, my little brother, and my mom. The atmosphere is going to be ridiculous. We’re leaving Saturday morning around 10. The atmosphere is going to be great.”
He added: “I’ve never been to a game before there. I went to their Midnight Madness, but I’ve heard they have the game put up on screens, too. The atmosphere should be electric.”
Battle is averaging 25 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
He is following Syracuse rookie point guard Tyler Ennis, who played prep ball at fellow Jersey power St. Benedict’s Prep.
“He’s just a great scoring point guard,” Battle said. “I knew that he was going to be good, but this is just amazing. He’s really like no other point guard in the country right now.”
Syracuse is recruiting Battle as a point guard, and he could eventually follow in Ennis’ footsteps.
“They’re recruiting me as a point guard,” he said. “I’ll be watching Tyler Ennis. Just seeing how he plays the game. Even when somebody is pressuring him, he stays poised. he’s always cool under pressure.”
Battle also plans to visit Ohio State March 9 for the Michigan State game.
“I’m going to Ohio State for a game,” Battle said. “I think I’m going for their game against Michigan State. The two trips planned right now are just for Syracuse and the Ohio State trip.”
His father said he will visit Michigan June 7.
“My dad’s been talking to Michigan a couple of times,” Battle said. “Florida has been recruiting me pretty hard. Ohio State has, too. They’ve watched me play. Villanova talks to my dad a lot. They have a great system. They have a lot of Team Final guys there. They’ve got good guards there too and the team’s gotten a lot better. I watch them lot.”
Indiana is also in the mix.
For now, though, Syracuse appears to stand out for the New Jersey guard.
“Yeah, I like them a lot,” he said. “I like them a lot.”
