Gonzaga – The pursuit of Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle reignite
The transfer portal officially closes on Wednesday night, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs might still be making roster changes.
Arkansas grad transfer Khalif Battle, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 14.8 points this past season, has planned an official visit to Gonzaga this weekend, sources confirmed to Gonzaga Nation. Battle, who entered the transfer portal on April 4, has reportedly visited Kansas State, TCU, and Villanova over the past two weeks. He has one year of eligibility left.
Battle ended his fifth college season strongly, averaging 29.6 points and 6.3 rebounds over his last seven games, including a 42-point performance in a win over Missouri on Feb. 24. He had 12 games with 20 or more points, including a 21-point game in an upset win over Duke. Battle shot 35.3% from 3-point range on 4.3 attempts per game.
Gonzaga – The pursuit of Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle reignite
The Zags lack depth in the backcourt after freshman guard Luka Krajnovic entered the transfer portal on Wednesday. The Croatian guard was the second scholarship player to enter the portal, along with freshman forward Pavle Stosic, while former walk-on Colby Brooks also entered. Anton Watson has exhausted his eligibility after five seasons at Gonzaga.
Shortly after the portal opened, the Bulldogs secured Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi, an All-WCC wing who averaged 17.2 points this past season. Steele Venters, a former Big Sky Player of the Year who missed last season with a torn ACL, is also set to suit up in a Gonzaga uniform for the first time next fall. Ajayi, Venters, and Dusty Stromer are expected to compete for minutes at the wing position and a spot in the starting lineup.
A native of Edison, New Jersey, Battle began his career at Butler before transferring to Temple, where he spent three seasons and was named All-AAC in 2020-21. His junior season ended prematurely due to a left foot injury.
Battle is ranked No. 82 on On3.com’s transfer portal rankings.
