
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Battle Selected Men's Basketball Director of Player Development
6/10/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tyus Battle, the 18th leading scorer in Syracuse men's basketball history, has been named the program's director of player development. He joins the staff of head coach Gerry McNamara, who was an assistant coach at Syracuse while Battle played for the Orange.
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DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
In this role, Battle will coordinate the off-court efforts to maximize each basketball student-athlete's potential. Battle will also assist with individual and small-group workouts and work closely with the coaching staff to implement tailored development plans. He will collaborate with sports medicine and the nutrition staff to support overall well-being of each student athlete.
A JERSEY PREP STAR
He began his scholastic basketball career with Gill St. Bernard's School and transferred to St. Joseph (Metuchen) High School for his senior year. Battle was the Somerset County South New Jersey Player of the Year and a second-team all-state pick as a sophomore. He was selected as the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior campaign.
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USA BATTLE
He was named to the USA Under-17 team that earned a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Championship. The American squad posted a perfect 7-0 record.
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BATTLE AT SYRACUSE
Battle accumulated 1,647 points in three seasons at Syracuse. He started 94 of the 103 contests he played in and averaged double-digit scoring for each campaign. He produced 11.3 points per game in 2016-17, his freshman campaign, and helped the Orange to a 19-15 overall record, a 10-8 ACC mark, and an NIT berth.
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The following year, Battle averaged 19.2 points per game, the second-best sophomore scoring mark at SU. He helped lead the Orange into the NCAA Tournament and the Orange advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to NO. 9 Duke. SU was 23-14 and 8-10 in the ACC. Battle's final campaign, in 2018-19, also resulted in an NCAA Tournament appearance. Battle led SU in scoring for the second consecutive season (17.2 ppg.) The Orange finished 20-14 and 10-8 in the ACC.
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Battle was a team captain in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2018 and a third-team honoree in 2019. Battle earned a spot on the All-ACC Men's Basketball Academic Team in 2017 and 2018 and was named to the Syracuse Athletic Director's Honor Roll in Fall 2016 and Fall 2017.
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Battle topped Syracuse in free throw percentage as a sophomore (.839) and a junior (.763) and had a squad-best 77 3-pointers his second year. In 2017-18 he established school records for season minutes played (1,443) and season minutes played average (39.0). His career minutes played average (34.9) is third at Syracuse, trailing only Gerry McNamara (35.5) and Billy Owens (35.1).
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He earned a bachelor's degree in information management and technology from Syracuse in 2019.
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PRO BASKETBALL BATTLE
He entered his name in the 2019 NBA Draft. After not being selected, Battle was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following training camp, he joined Minnesota's G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. Battle went on to play overseas, including stints in Russia, Italy, Israel, France and China.
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THE QUEST TO COACH
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Battle entered the coaching profession. He began as an assistant basketball coach at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in 2024. A year later, he was named an assistant basketball coach at The Pennington School (N.J.). This past winter, Battle was appointed an assistant basketball coach with Team Final in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
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For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).
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DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
In this role, Battle will coordinate the off-court efforts to maximize each basketball student-athlete's potential. Battle will also assist with individual and small-group workouts and work closely with the coaching staff to implement tailored development plans. He will collaborate with sports medicine and the nutrition staff to support overall well-being of each student athlete.
A JERSEY PREP STAR
He began his scholastic basketball career with Gill St. Bernard's School and transferred to St. Joseph (Metuchen) High School for his senior year. Battle was the Somerset County South New Jersey Player of the Year and a second-team all-state pick as a sophomore. He was selected as the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior campaign.
Â
USA BATTLE
He was named to the USA Under-17 team that earned a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Championship. The American squad posted a perfect 7-0 record.
Â
BATTLE AT SYRACUSE
Battle accumulated 1,647 points in three seasons at Syracuse. He started 94 of the 103 contests he played in and averaged double-digit scoring for each campaign. He produced 11.3 points per game in 2016-17, his freshman campaign, and helped the Orange to a 19-15 overall record, a 10-8 ACC mark, and an NIT berth.
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The following year, Battle averaged 19.2 points per game, the second-best sophomore scoring mark at SU. He helped lead the Orange into the NCAA Tournament and the Orange advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to NO. 9 Duke. SU was 23-14 and 8-10 in the ACC. Battle's final campaign, in 2018-19, also resulted in an NCAA Tournament appearance. Battle led SU in scoring for the second consecutive season (17.2 ppg.) The Orange finished 20-14 and 10-8 in the ACC.
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Battle was a team captain in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2018 and a third-team honoree in 2019. Battle earned a spot on the All-ACC Men's Basketball Academic Team in 2017 and 2018 and was named to the Syracuse Athletic Director's Honor Roll in Fall 2016 and Fall 2017.
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Battle topped Syracuse in free throw percentage as a sophomore (.839) and a junior (.763) and had a squad-best 77 3-pointers his second year. In 2017-18 he established school records for season minutes played (1,443) and season minutes played average (39.0). His career minutes played average (34.9) is third at Syracuse, trailing only Gerry McNamara (35.5) and Billy Owens (35.1).
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He earned a bachelor's degree in information management and technology from Syracuse in 2019.
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PRO BASKETBALL BATTLE
He entered his name in the 2019 NBA Draft. After not being selected, Battle was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following training camp, he joined Minnesota's G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. Battle went on to play overseas, including stints in Russia, Italy, Israel, France and China.
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THE QUEST TO COACH
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Battle entered the coaching profession. He began as an assistant basketball coach at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in 2024. A year later, he was named an assistant basketball coach at The Pennington School (N.J.). This past winter, Battle was appointed an assistant basketball coach with Team Final in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
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For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).
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