Source: WVU Still Completing Waiver Application for RaeQuan Battle

RaeQuan Battle, one of West Virginia’s incoming transfers, needs a waiver to play for the 2023-24 season. A source tells WV Sports Now that WVU’s staff is still completing the waiver application process for Battle. The 6-foot-5 guard will either play out his eligibility this season with the Mountaineers or be forced to sit a year.

The timeline for the application being submitted to the NCAA is unknown but is believed to be within the next couple of weeks. From there, the NCAA will review the application and give a ruling. The NCAA typically takes 10-14 days on their decision but can be quicker or slower depending on the situation. For reference, Jose Perez’s wavier last season took about a week and a half for the NCAA to get back to West Virginia.

Battle has transferred multiple times as an undergraduate student-athlete and is not a grad transfer after this summer session. The NCAA recently has started to crack down on waivers from transfers, no matter the situation. Over on the football side, WR Tez Walker transferred from Kent State to North Carolina to take care of his ailing grandmother. Walker began his career at NC Central, making him a multi-time undergraduate transfer. Walker’s waiver was denied by the NCAA earlier this month.

West Virginia believes Battle has enough of a valid reason to play this season. While Battle and WVU await the NCAA’s decision, the Montana State transfer can still practice with the team.

Battle transferred from Montana State this April after averaging 17.7 points on 47% shooting for the Bobcats. Battle led Montana State to the NCAA Tournament, giving 3-seed Kansas State a game in the first round. Battle and the Bobcats fell short but the current Mountaineer scored a game-high 27 points.

West Virginia has not had the greatest luck submitting waivers in the past eight months. Perez had his waiver and appeal denied last season after transferring in late October. After a long offseason, Perez is set to have a big role for the Mountaineers in his final year of college basketball. Perez’s childhood friend Omar Silverio wasn’t as fortunate as the NCAA ended his collegiate career on Aug. 10. Silverio needed a waiver after transferring multiple times and leaving Manhattan during the school year. The NCAA did not give a full reason to Silverio for the denied waiver.

WVSN will keep you up to date with Battle’s waiver process.