Arkansas basketball senior Khalif Battle hints he could return to Razorbacks next season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Khalif Battle scored 29 points in Arkansas basketball's 94-83 win over LSU on Wednesday night, but he also provided some hope that there will be an encore to his short career with the Razorbacks.
Battle is a senior, but he still has one year of eligibility thanks to the extra COVID year. He did not partake in any senior night festivities Wednesday, and in the postgame press conference he deferred a question about the importance of winning in what could have been the final home game of his Arkansas career.
"He can take it," Battle said about Jeremiah Davenport, who was also at the podium. "He’s a senior. I’ve got another year left, so I’ll let the senior go."
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Of course, Battle could once again transfer after moving to Arkansas (15-15, 6-11 SEC) from Temple for this season, but he also reaffirmed his desire to play for the Hogs past this year.
"I’m a Razorback. Ain’t nothing changed. I’m a Razorback until the end," Battle said.
A roller-coaster season for Battle is ending on a sustained high. He scored 30 points in three-straight games prior to Wednesday.
According to SEC Network, Battle's 141 points over the past four games are the most scored in a four-game stretch by an SEC player in the last 20 seasons of league play. He passed the 134 that Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks scored during the 2008 campaign.
He also had three blocks against LSU, showing his growth on the defensive end of the floor. Through either offensive inconsistency or defensive lapses, Battle had a hard time staying on the floor earlier in the season. There was a three-game stretch in January where he played just seven total minutes.
"The way that he’s evolved as the season’s gone on. He’s done a great job of buying in, and I think that’s why you see the productivity continue to improve," Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman said. "Like I said, I know that he enjoys playing here and playing in that system, but it’s whenever he makes a decision or whatever’s on him."
The only other senior with eligibility remaining is Davonte Davis, who did participate in Wednesday's ceremony. Tramon Mark and Trevon Brazile could both return next year, along with the freshmen Layden Blocker and Baye Fall.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas basketball's Khalif Battle hints at possible return for 2024-25
