Butler Basketball: Previewing Khalif Battle’s impact for 2019-20

On the offensive end…

Khalif Battle is a scorer. Plain and simple. Even though he will be a true freshman this season, odds are fairly likely that he is among Butler’s top offensive options. Kamar Baldwin and Jordan Tucker are definitely the safest bets to lead the Dawgs in scoring this season but Battle might not be that far behind them. He could be a double-digit per game scorer right out of the gates.

With Aaron Thompson and Baldwin holding down the two starting backcourt spots, Battle will be placed in the sixth man role for Butler. He is the logical replacement for graduated senior Paul Jorgensen in the rotation and should be one of the offensive leaders of the second unit along with Sean McDermott. Battle is a dynamic offensive threat due to his self-creating and ability to score at all three levels.

While playing on the Nike EYBL circuit last summer, Battle showcased his entire offensive repertoire. Over 17 contests, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 37-for-91 (40.7%) from 3-point range. He is a solid ball-handler with the ability to win one-on-one matchups but can also move without the ball relatively well. Although not much of a passer at this point, Battle can fill it up on the court and Butler will need that out of him.

One of the Dawgs’ biggest issues last season was the lack of scoring around Baldwin. With Tucker, McDermott, and Battle on the perimeter, there are definitely more polished scoring options on the team and all of those three are above-average shooters from distance. Additionally, Battle’s elite-level athleticism gives the team yet another strong finisher at the rim. Battle can rise up for emphatic dunks but is also quite crafty with using his insane hangtime to finish around defenders.