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Syracuse guard Tyus Battle pulls out of 2018 NBA Draft

Jimmy V Classic

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Tyus Battle #25 of the Syracuse Orange drives down the court in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

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Tyus Battle will return to Syracuse for his junior season after pulling out of the 2018 NBA Draft on Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-6 Battle was the Orange’s clear No. 1 option on offense last season as he put up 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as a sophomore. Although his shooting percentages were low (39 percent from the field, 32 percent from three-point range) Battle was one of the few players on Syracuse who could create his own shot last season.

With Battle back in the fold for 2018-19, the Orange become an intriguing deep among the middle of the pack in the ACC. While the league will be as deep and tough as ever, the Orange are coming off of a promising NCAA tournament run that saw them make a surprise Sweet 16 appearance as a No. 11 seed.

If Battle gets more help on the offensive end this season (and he hopefully should with Oshae Brissett returning as well) then he could be among the leading scorers in the ACC.