West Virginia guard RaeQuan Battle filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA on Friday and asked a judge to issue a temporary restraining order in his effort to gain immediate eligibility to play.
His lawyers have accused the NCAA of weaponizing waiver requests with inconsistent evaluations.
The NCAA denied Battle's initial waiver request to play after transferring in the spring from Montana State, his second school. Last month, the appeal West Virginia filed on his behalf -- players who transfer twice need a waiver to play immediately at their next school -- was also denied, months after the NCAA announced a more rigid list of guidelines for players seeking waivers. Those guidelines included proof that a transfer would enhance a player's mental health if it had been "impaired" at a previous school.
In his waiver request, Battle (17.7 points per game at Montana State in 2022-23) said his transfer to West Virginia was beneficial to his mental health, the byproduct of a traumatic stretch in recent years. Battle, one of the few Indigenous Division I basketball players, has also accused the NCAA of ignoring ignoring Native American communities.
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His lawyers have accused the NCAA of weaponizing waiver requests with inconsistent evaluations.
The NCAA denied Battle's initial waiver request to play after transferring in the spring from Montana State, his second school. Last month, the appeal West Virginia filed on his behalf -- players who transfer twice need a waiver to play immediately at their next school -- was also denied, months after the NCAA announced a more rigid list of guidelines for players seeking waivers. Those guidelines included proof that a transfer would enhance a player's mental health if it had been "impaired" at a previous school.
In his waiver request, Battle (17.7 points per game at Montana State in 2022-23) said his transfer to West Virginia was beneficial to his mental health, the byproduct of a traumatic stretch in recent years. Battle, one of the few Indigenous Division I basketball players, has also accused the NCAA of ignoring ignoring Native American communities.
WVU's Battle files federal suit over NCAA denial
West Virginia guard RaeQuan Battle filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA on Friday and asked a judge to issue a temporary restraining order in his effort to gain immediate eligibility to play.
