RaeQuan Battle wasted no time showing just what the West Virginia University men’s basketball team was missing.
The Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate, who only recently gained eligibility to play in the 2023-24 NCAA season, was named the Big-12 Conference Co-Player of the Week for Dec. 25-31. It was Battle’s second straight Player of the Week honor.
Battle, a senior guard, recorded 24 points in West Virginia’s 78-75 overtime loss to Ohio State on Saturday, shooting 9-for-19 from the floor, including 3-for-8 from 3-point range. He added 10 rebounds for his first double-double for West Virginia, while also swiping three steals. He shared the Player of the Week honor with Texas Tech’s Pop Isaacs.
This came one week after Battle was named both the Big-12’s Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week for averaging 29 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals across two games.
Battle played his first game for the Mountaineers on Dec. 20 after he finally won his long struggle with the NCAA to be eligible for the 2023-24 season. Battle, who transferred to West Virginia from Montana State in April, needed a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible because it was his second transfer. The NCAA twice denied Battle’s waiver request, but a federal judge later implemented a preliminary injunction that allows multi-transfer players to be eligible for the remainder of the academic year.
Battle sat out West Virginia’s first 10 games prior to the federal ruling. Through three games he’s averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals. The Mountaineers (5-8) are 1-2 since Battle joined the lineup.
Lucas’ knee still ailing
Archbishop Murphy High School graduate Abraham Lucas, now the starting right tackle for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, is a doubt for the Seahawks’ regular season finale at Arizona on Sunday because of the knee injury that’s bothered him all season.
Lucas, in his second season, missed 10 games earlier this season because of a knee injury. He returned for Seattle’s Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys, and he played every snap of the Seahawks’ Week 15 game against Philadelphia and Week 16 game against Tennessee.
However, Lucas left Sunday’s 30-23 home loss to Pittsburgh late in the first half as Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Lucas was unable to generate enough power with the same knee. Lucas did not return, with Stone Forsythe playing the second half in his place. Carroll said Wednesday that it would be difficult for Lucas to recover in time for Sunday’s game at Arizona because the knee “is really bothering him.”
Veteran Jason Peters, who started at right tackle just before Lucas returned, is dealing with a foot injury of his own and is also unlikely to play this week. If both Lucas and Peters are unable to go, Forsythe is expected to get the start.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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