WVU G RaeQuan Battle Releases Statement: ‘I Will Not Go Quietly’

WVU G RaeQuan Battle released a statement on his denied waiver by the NCAA, stating that he will not go away quietly until he can play. Battle, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Montana State, was denied his appeal to play immediately with West Virginia on Tuesday.

Battle goes into detail about his thought process while transferring. Battle says he had three options last spring: staying at Montana State, following his former coach Danny Sprinkle to Utah State or to trust the NCAA to understand his mental health.

“The state of West Virginia has become a second home to me, and my teammates have become a second family. My hope is that the NCAA will understand what it is doing is wrong, that it will realize that it is going against everything it is supposed to stand for when it made this decision, and it will look at the facts and reserve itself. But more than that, even if I never play another game of basketball, I will not go quietly. At a minimum I will be one more Native American voice shouting into the ears of an institution that is all too oblivious of its failings and prejudices.”

Battle’s full statement can be read down below on his Twitter (X) post.

⏳🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/a3gpjlVXRE

— RaeQuan Battle (@RaeQuanBattle) November 25, 2023

For now, Battle is ineligible for this season and can play during the 2024-25 season. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is currently coordinating with Battle’s attorney. WVU’s staff is also working on trying to get Battle to play immediately still.

WVU interim HC Josh Eilert spoke to the media for the first time about the denied appeal on Friday. Eilert mentioned that the NCAA is not doing what’s best for Battle and his mental health. E

WV Sports Now will keep you up to date on Battle’s eligibility.