NCAA denies fast eligibility for WVU males’s hoops guard RaeQuan Battle

MORGANTOWN — For the second time in as a few years, the NCAA has denied fast eligibility to a WVU males’s basketball participant looking for a waiver.

The varsity introduced Tuesday that guard RaeQuan Battle’s waiver request for fast eligibility was denied.

WVU stated in a launched assertion that it plans to enchantment that call.

WVU went via the identical course of final season with guard Jose Perez, who was additionally denied a waiver after which had his enchantment denied additionally.

Perez was compelled to sit down out final season after which was faraway from the roster earlier than the beginning of this season for a violation of workforce guidelines.

The enchantment can be dealt with by the NCAA Committee for Legislative Reduction, whose choice can be remaining on this scenario. If Battle is denied a second time, he must sit out this season, however could be eligible to play subsequent season.

Going by final season’s timeline with Perez, a remaining choice on Battle’s eligibility may are available about three weeks.

At subject with Battle’s eligibility is the 6-foot-5 guard from Tulalip, Wash. has already performed at two different faculties and used his one-time free switch to go from Washington to Montana State in 2021.

Since final 12 months, the NCAA and the Division I Council have provide you with new pointers for athletes looking for a second switch earlier than incomes a university diploma.

The rules to earn a waiver have been unanimously handed by the council, which have been:

** A demonstrated bodily damage or sickness or psychological well being situation that necessitated the coed’s switch (supporting documentation, care plans and proximity of the coed’s assist system can be thought-about).
** Exigent circumstances that clearly necessitate a student-athlete’s fast departure from the earlier faculty (e.g., bodily assault or abuse, sexual assault) unrelated to the student-athlete’s athletics participation.

In previous interviews, WVU interim head coach Josh Eilert had hinted the varsity was going after the mental-health angle in attempting to get Battle’s waiver.

“I actually fear about that for RaeQuan, as a result of he actually does want basketball in his life,” Eilert stated. “I’ve touched on his story a little bit bit and I don’t need to get into it. Basketball is one thing he wants on a day-to-day foundation. He wants that construction and that accountability each day to maintain his head on straight.”

Battle has his greatest school season in 2022-23, averaging 17.7 factors per recreation. Former WVU head coach Bob Huggins signed Battle out of the switch portal final April.

Battle will proceed to be permitted to observe and work out along with his teammates throughout the enchantment course of.

The NCAA’s denial of Battle’s waiver is a disappointment for Eilert, who earlier stated he anticipated the NCAA to approve it.

“I actually really feel prefer it must be a rubber stamp if you already know his file and what he’s went via and why he selected West Virginia,” Eilert stated. “There’s quite a lot of dynamics and quite a lot of variables to this entire story and I believe the NCAA goes to do proper by him on the finish of the day and he’s going to be taking part in for us. That’s my intestine feeling.”

If Battle’s enchantment is denied, the Mountaineers can be all the way down to 10 obtainable scholarship gamers for the season.