Soaring Down South
Fansided

2018 NBA Draft: 4 Players on the Hawks Radar Who Returned to College

By Chris Guest

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - DECEMBER 30: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to make a shot during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on December 30, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 95-93. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - DECEMBER 30: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to make a shot during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on December 30, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 95-93. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Tyus Battle  (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Tyus Battle  (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The leading scorer from Syracuse’s Sweet 16 team last season, Tyus Battle will be returning to play for the Orange in his junior year next season.

Battle’s valued varied wildly from outlet to outlet regarding where he would be selecting in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now that he’s returning, along with the five other leading scorers from the team including O’Shae Brissett, Battle should be able to cultivate his value on a likely preseason Top 25 team in the NCAA.

Battle is a 6-foot-6 combo guard who put up 19.2 points per game on a 45/32/84 slash line in his sophomore year as the Orange’s leading scorer. His usage climbed nearly ten percentage points during his second college season all the way to 28.1%, meaning he is comfortable with the ball in his hands as his team’s primary offensive creator.

From Atlanta’s viewpoint, if Kent Bazemore is shipped out to a contender at the deadline or during next offseason, Battle should definitely be in the team’s wheelhouse in the 2019 draft as a bench scorer/ballhandler, as he showed some promise in that role with similar physical tools to Baze as well.