Sports
College basketball transfer portal: How ex-Minnesota wing Jamison Battle fits with top suitors – 247Sports
Basketball has shifted into a wings game, and Minnesota transfer Jamison Battle is one of the top wings in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward has 1,479 career points to his name. Battle averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game for Minnesota in 2021-22. A preseason foot injury and a nagging back injury sapped Battle’s efficiency this past season, but he still managed to average 12.4 points per game.
Battle is a career 35% shooter on 3s, and his strong efficiency numbers carry over far beyond just the 3-point stripe. Battle shot 51.8% on 2s and 79% on free throws spanning two years at George Washington and two more at Minnesota. But the graduate transfer has not played in a single NCAA Tournament game throughout his career. He’s never played on a winning team, but that can change in 2023-24.
Battle is the No. 15-rated player in the transfer portal.
Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today.
Here is how Battle would fit with the schools that are in the mix.
Xavier: Xavier’s lineup is going to look very different next year with so many veterans and potential NBA Draft decisions. There’s no doubt Sean Miller could find creative ways to utilize Battle on the offensive end. Battle would have to embrace more off-ball movement to fit in Miller’s creative schemes/sets.
Clemson: Clemson has to replace Hunter Tyson, and Battle is a near clone. Both veteran wings have great size with the ability to absolutely fill it up without a monster usage rate. Brad Brownell helped spark a career-best season out of Tyson, and it’s easy to see how Battle could walk right in and do plenty of the same things. Battle has great length and he’s really skilled. When his pull-up is dropping, he’s one of the best scorers in the country who can blow up any defense.
Utah: Utah shot just 31.9% on 3s during Pac-12 play. Battle would help change that in a hurry. Utah has Minnesota natives like Ben Carlson and Gabe Madsen on the roster already who could make the transition even easier.
LSU: Does Matt McMahon want to make LSU a haven for Big Ten lefty transfers who profile to be really good shooters? Adam Miller was the first. The opportunity is there for LSU to make Battle the second. Battle would have no trouble assimilating to the athleticism of the SEC.
Illinois: Illinois coach Brad Underwood raved about Battle’s knack to make contested jumpers, so it’s no surprise that the Illini expressed interest in the Minnesota transfer after its Big Ten wars. The Illini could have a boatload of opportunity to sell on the wing with Matthew Mayer leaving and Terrence Shannon Jr. potentially off to the 2023 NBA Draft. Expecting Battle to be a pick-and-roll maestro is not realistic, but Underwood put Mayer (a skilled, 6-foot-9 wing) into some really good spots on his way to an All-Big Ten season. Battle could operate as Illinois’ replacement for Mayer. But Battle could be looking to play with an experienced point guard. His best season came when he got to team up with Payton Willis in 2021-22. Illinois doesn’t have that … Yet.
Iowa State: Battle would have to improve his effort on the glass and his attention to detail on the defensive end to stay on the floor for Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. But Minnesota transfer Gabe Kalscheur revived his career at Iowa State, and Battle could do some of the same things as a go-to offensive hub for the Cyclones. It’d also give Iowa State some serious size on the wing, especially if Demarion Watson keeps rapidly improving and Iowa State’s sparkling Class of 2023 proves too good to sit early. If Iowa State landed Battle, it could easily have four guys over 6-foot-6 on the floor at the same time next year.
Indiana: Mike Woodson already had a meeting with Battle, and his pitch centers around Indiana’s gaping hole on the wing after the graduation of Miller Kopp. Battle drained 52.8% of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in 2021-22. He can be more than just a “stand in the corner” guy for Indiana, too. While he didn’t grade out great in pick-and-rolls last season, the upgraded Indiana personnel could help Battle’s efficiency skyrocket.
Santa Clara: Santa Clara is developing one heck of a sell for guys who want to transfer down and position themselves to go pro. Jalen Williams’ development into one of the NBA’s best rookies helps that vision. So does the success of Illinois transfer Brandin Podziemski who transformed into the West Coast Conference co-Player of the Year.
Wake Forest: Bucket-getters like Tyree Appleby and Daivien Williamson are out of eligibility, so Wake Forest has to add proven scorers out of the portal. Battle could help mentor potential breakout star Bobi Klintman, and his game would flourish in Steve Forbes’ free-flowing offense. A potential lineup of Damari Monsanto (6-foot-6), Klintman (6-foot-10) and Battle (6-foot-7) would provide some real defensive versatility for Wake Forest. Forbes also just helped Indiana State transfer Jake LaRavia turn into an NBA Draft pick.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma did not have that big, physical wing who could get the rock with the shot clock dwindling and get you one when things are breaking down. Battle’s shot selection could get a little iffy –– he had to bail out a ton of bad Minnesota possessions –– but he’s also capable of saving rapidly-sinking plays in a heartbeat.
Ohio State: Battle looks every bit the piece of a potential Justice Sueing replacement. Ohio State has a really strong, young core in place with soon-to-be sophomores Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Felix Okpara. But adding a shot-making, big wing who can create his own offense would make life easier for the youngsters.
Nebraska: Nebraska desperately needs more veterans with Sam Griesel and Derrick Walker out of eligibility. Battle teaming up with Keisei Tominaga would add a different element to Nebraska’s offense. The two lefty net-shredders would be a thorn in the side of opposing Big Ten defenses. 30-plus minutes and double-digit shots are easy to project for Battle at Nebraska.
Arkansas: Skilled size who can shoot the cover off the ball when healthy? Those are the types of guys that make a lot of sense for an Arkansas roster that will have plenty of athleticism and raw talent but does not currently have a lot of proven perimeter shot-making. Battle could easily have a Stanley Umede-like role for Arkansas, at minimum. He’s been a lead dog on a bad team. Will Battle want to be a role player for an awesome team?
Oklahoma State: How can Oklahoma State attempt to fix an offense that ranked ninth in efficiency during Big 12 play? How about adding a guy who is capable of going for 30 on any given night? Oklahoma State could be an attractive destination for Battle because he will always be surrounded by well-schooled defenders and willing role players.
© 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc.
