NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 25 hidden freshmen stars from the 2019 class

Khalif Battle, Butler Bulldogs

SG | 6-foot-5 | 175 lbs | No. 96 overall

As one of the top-ranked players to ever commit to Butler, it should come as no surprise that Khalif Battle is coming to campus with high expectations. The Dawgs lost high-scoring guard Paul Jorgensen to graduation this offseason and that will open the door for this freshman to come in and play big minutes right away. Although not projected to be a starter, Battle should function as the primary backup on the wing. There seems to be immediate available playing time for Battle and his playing style should make him a perfect fit in the rotation.

At 6-foot-5, Battle brings plenty of size to the wing and he is well-known as a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc. His sniping abilities were definitely on full display throughout last summer as he shot 37-for-91 (40.7%) on the Nike EYBL circuit. In addition to his shooting, though, Battle possesses show-stopping athleticism and uses this for emphatic dunks. Battle’s finishing around the rim is superb as a result of his hang time and this makes him a potentially dynamic scorer from Day 1 for head coach LaVall Jordan. Battle’s size and athleticism also make him defensively versatile, meaning that he should be a seamless fit alongside just about anyone else on the roster.

Battle has the potential to be Butler’s biggest “x-factor” this year. The Dawgs missed the NCAA Tournament during this past season but he should be a difference-making freshman. Butler will need someone to be a spark-plug contributor and Battle’s two-way impact could be exactly what Coach Jordan is looking for. Watch out for this freshman to be one of the best in the Big East.