In Spokane, Washington, the Gonzaga men’s basketball squad received a significant boost today with the commitment of Khalif Battle, a graduate transfer guard from Arkansas.
Standing at 6’5″, Battle showcased his prowess on the court by averaging 14.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his senior year at Arkansas. His scoring prowess was particularly evident in the final stretch of last season, where he averaged nearly 26 points per game over five outings. Notably, he achieved a season-high 42 points against Missouri on February 24.
Before his time at Arkansas, Battle had stints at Butler and Temple. His addition enriches an already formidable Gonzaga backcourt featuring Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman. With Battle’s arrival, the workload for the returning guards is expected to lighten, as they frequently played extended minutes last season.
With Battle now in the fold, Gonzaga is poised to be a consensus top-three team in the upcoming season. The team retains six of its seven role players from the previous campaign and welcomes additions such as Steele Venters, Michael Ajayi (a transfer from Pepperdine), and Battle, strengthening its roster considerably.
Even after securing Battle, Gonzaga still has three available scholarship spots to fill, further fueling anticipation for the team’s prospects in the coming season.
