Turner Battle
Encyclopedia
Turner Battle is an American former basketball
point guard
for the University at Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
from 2001 to 2005. Battle is credited with fueling the resurgence of the Bulls men's basketball program, which went from 5-23 during his sophomore season to a 23-win senior campaign. On July 5, 2007, Battle was named an assistant coach at Buffalo, replacing Chris Hawkins who left for Tulane University. It was Hawkins who recruited Battle to UB out of high school.
in North Carolina
. There, he led the Fighting Eagles to a 15-8 record and a conference championship as a senior, while averaging 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
Following his senior season, "All-Star Sports" Editor-in-Chief and college basketball recruiting expert Bob Gibbons had Battle rated as one of the top 100 prospects in the Class of 2001. "I think this is the steal of the millennium," said Gibbons. "Turner Battle could have played for an ACC
school. He's a true point guard who is a tremendous floor leader and an outstanding student-athlete."
Championship and an automatic bid in the NIT. After the season, Battle was honored as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the first such award for a Buffalo player. Battle was also named to the All-MAC First Team for the first time in his career (he was named All-MAC Honorable Mention following his sophomore season). In addition, Battle was named to the Academic All-MAC squad after his final three seasons with the Bulls.
, a first division team in Estonia
before briefly playing for a first division team in France
. Battle then signed with the Fort Worth Flyers
of the NBADL. On February 1, 2006, Battle returned to Buffalo to play with the Buffalo Rapids of the American Basketball Association
.
for the 2006-07 season and on July 5, 2007, he was named assistant coach at his alma mater.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the University at Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team
Buffalo Bulls
The Buffalo Bulls are the athletic teams representing the University at Buffalo in intercollegiate athletics. The Bulls currently play in Division I , and are a member of the Mid-American Conference for all sports except women's rowing who is in the Cononial Athletic Assocition . They have been a...
from 2001 to 2005. Battle is credited with fueling the resurgence of the Bulls men's basketball program, which went from 5-23 during his sophomore season to a 23-win senior campaign. On July 5, 2007, Battle was named an assistant coach at Buffalo, replacing Chris Hawkins who left for Tulane University. It was Hawkins who recruited Battle to UB out of high school.
High school
The Bulls announced the signing of Battle on November 10, 2000 out of East Forsyth High SchoolEast Forsyth High School
East Forsyth High School is located in the town of Kernersville in Forsyth County, North Carolina. It is laid out in a college-campus esque style with numerous small buildings rather than a single large building.-Facilities:...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. There, he led the Fighting Eagles to a 15-8 record and a conference championship as a senior, while averaging 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
Following his senior season, "All-Star Sports" Editor-in-Chief and college basketball recruiting expert Bob Gibbons had Battle rated as one of the top 100 prospects in the Class of 2001. "I think this is the steal of the millennium," said Gibbons. "Turner Battle could have played for an ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
school. He's a true point guard who is a tremendous floor leader and an outstanding student-athlete."
College
Following a senior season in which Battle averaged 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, Battle led the Bulls to within a last second tip-in of the school's first MACMid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
Championship and an automatic bid in the NIT. After the season, Battle was honored as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the first such award for a Buffalo player. Battle was also named to the All-MAC First Team for the first time in his career (he was named All-MAC Honorable Mention following his sophomore season). In addition, Battle was named to the Academic All-MAC squad after his final three seasons with the Bulls.
Professional
Following his collegiate career, Battle signed with BC Kalev/CramoBC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
, a first division team in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
before briefly playing for a first division team in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Battle then signed with the Fort Worth Flyers
Fort Worth Flyers
The Fort Worth Flyers is the name of a now defunct team of the NBA Development League minor league basketball expansion team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They began play in the 2005-06 season. The decision was made by the NBADL to not operate this team for the 2007-08 season.- Franchise history...
of the NBADL. On February 1, 2006, Battle returned to Buffalo to play with the Buffalo Rapids of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
.
Coaching
Battle was an assistant coach at Sweet Home High School in the Buffalo suburb of AmherstAmherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
for the 2006-07 season and on July 5, 2007, he was named assistant coach at his alma mater.