Less than 24 hours after West Virginia’s men’s basketball program announced the NCAA denied a waiver for RaeQuan Battle to be eligible this season, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey made his thoughts known on the matter.
“The recent decision to deny RaeQuan Battle’s eligibility to play basketball at West Virginia University this season raises serious legal issues that demand answers,” Morrisey said. “Like many WVU fans and citizens of West Virginia, I was dismayed by this move and am hopeful it can still be fixed in time for the 2023-24 season.
“We are engaged on this matter and will be weighing in more formally in the days ahead. We want to make sure the right things happen for RaeQuan and WVU, and that any action taken is consistent with the rule of law. As the Attorney General of West Virginia, I take our antitrust authority seriously and will take all appropriate steps to ensure our laws are followed.”
The Mountaineers announced they will appeal the original decision in an effort to get Battle eligible for the upcoming season.
As a two-time undergraduate transfer, a waiver was required for Battle to be eligible for game competition in his first year at West Virginia. Interim head coach Josh Eilert had expressed confidence Battle would be given the waiver, but instead, Eilert is left with 10 scholarship players as he prepares to take on a new expanded role.
The Mountaineers open the regular season November 6 against Missouri State. They also welcome George Mason on Friday for a 7 p.m. exhibition.
The recent decision to deny RaeQuan Battle’s eligibility to play basketball at WVU this season raises serious legal issues that demand answers. Like many WVU fans and citizens of West Virginia, I was dismayed by this move and am hopeful it can still be fixed in time for the…
— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) October 24, 2023
Earlier this month, North Carolina’s football program gained national attention when wide receiver Tez Walker was granted eligibility by the NCAA after the organization had originally rejecting Walker’s appeal.
In that case, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein sent letters to the NCAA in an effort to have them reconsider the waiver and thus make Walker eligible.
A Kent State transfer, Walker was ruled eligible after the NCAA said it received new information not previously made available by UNC.