6-6 Armond Battle, Plymouth (MN)

[Mslacat]

Here is a 2008 prospect the Griz are looking at. If nothing else what a great name!

Several Pulley Panthers left big impressions with coaches down at the Kingwood Classic including Benilde-St. Margaret's 6-foot-6 small forward Armond Battle. Battle picked up his second offer as well as a lot of interest from teams like Creighton, Minnesota and several others. Armond led the Red Knights in scoring last year with 20.1 points per contest.

Battle played well at the Kingwood
This is Armond's second year playing with the Panthers and April tournaments brought success. "We have done real well as we have finished in the top of both tournaments we have played in so far," Battle stated. "I feel I have played better and better with each time on the court. At the beginning I struggled a little but I've played better with each tournament."

Armond has had interest from schools throughout the Midwest for over a year and he has checked out some schools including Minnesota and Wisconsin a number of times. His first offer came from Wisconsin-Green Bay and others could be on the way but most of the teams are just really interested at this point. "Creighton is interested but from the internet I've heard that they have offered but I don't think that is true at all because they have not even contacted about that," said Battle. "I have been seeing that news all over the place and people have been saying that to me but I don't think that is true at all. Creighton has contacted me a little bit though." Creighton has also talked to Rene Pulley a lot about Armond and several schools called Pulley after watching Armond in Houston.

Armond has picked up one new offer and he's likely to get more in the near future. "I just received an offer from Western Michigan," Battle explained. "Creighton, Western Michigan, Penn State, Iowa State, Tulsa and Minnesota have all talked to me. I still get mail from Kansas, Northern Iowa has shown interest and I just received some things from San Francisco and TCU has also talked to me. Those are the main schools right now." In addition to those schools Rene Pulley has taken calls from other schools starting to show Armond interest including Montana, Colorado State and Wyoming.

Battle has been seen at Williams Arena several times as a guest of the Gophers in the recent past. Tubby Coach is now leading the U and he has made his way over to Benilde-St. Margaret's. "Tubby came by our school and talked to me for a little bit," said Battle. "I talked to him there for just a little while." Coach Smith was able to see Armond play with the Pulley Panthers seven times in Houston at the Kingwood Classic.

 

[djollieballs]

If Tubby's been through to talk to him, our chances can't be very good. Can they?

 

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

Related to Arnez?

 

[Zirg]

Benilde (who both my brothers attended) and De La Salle where Cameron Rundles went are long-time arch rivals and were in the same conference for 20 or so years and may still be, so I am sure they are well acquainted with each other. De La Salle actually played/plays their home football games at Benilde since they are stadium-less (although not for long).

Also the Gophers have not been getting the best in-state players for many years, so that is not a good indicator. Coming from Kentucky, I am sure Tubby is looking at richer recruiting hot-beds than Minnesota, which can be to our benefit.

Arnaz Battle is from Dallas and Shreveport,LA, so I doubt they are related.

 

[MinnesotaGriz]

Had a chance to watch him play in person at the State Tournament this spring. Long, athletic kid who is overall pretty talented. Good shot blocker and handles the ball well for his size. Judging by the way he looks now, he could grow another inch or two. As he gets stronger and improves his outside shot, he could end up being a nice player. I think the Griz may have a tough time landing him, but who knows, maybe Rundles knows him from playing against each other in the summer and could influence his decision.

 

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

Had a chance to watch him play in person at the State Tournament this spring. Long, athletic kid who is overall pretty talented. Good shot blocker and handles the ball well for his size. Judging by the way he looks now, he could grow another inch or two. As he gets stronger and improves his outside shot, he could end up being a nice player. I think the Griz may have a tough time landing him, but who knows, maybe Rundles knows him from playing against each other in the summer and could influence his decision.

I think Rundles will prove to be a good recruiter, just his type of personality. From what sean watson told me, cam was one of the better people he met here.