Report: West Virginia judge grants restraining order on WVU guard RaeQuan Battle eligibility case

West Virginia’s RaeQuan Battle has been fighting to get back onto the court, and it looks like there’s been a positive development for the basketball star.

Battle has been dealing with a controversial decision from the NCAA that many other athletes have fought against, as he was denied a transfer waiver after he joined the Mountaineers in the offseason. The latest move in the drama was Battle filing a lawsuit that would allow him to play immediately.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, a judge has ruled in Battle’s favor, and it seems as if he’ll be allowed to play, for now.

“West Virginia Judge John P. Bailey grants a 14-day temporary restraining order, giving WVU’s RaeQuan Battle eligibility & paving the way for more suits from 2nd-time transfers seeking eligibility,” Dellenger posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “NCAA will likely appeal. A full hearing on the injunction is set for Dec. 23.”

Evidently, there’s more to the drama surrounding Battle’s eligibility, but the Mountaineers star can celebrate a victory on Wednesday. How long he’s able to live in it remains to be seen.

Additionally, Dellenger added that Battle’s lawsuit was one of two against the NCAA over their transfer rules, ruling against the NCAA in the consolidated suit.

The aforementioned Judge Bailey of West Virginia ruled that the NCAA can’t “make an athlete sit out a year,” and lifted the year-in-residence restriction on multi-time transfers for 14 day in the process, per Dellenger.

“The ruling comes out of a pair of lawsuits against the NCAA over transfer rules – one from RaeQuan Battle & the other from seven state AGs,” Dellenger wrote. “The two cases were consolidated and a hearing was held this morning in front of Bailey in West Virginia District Court.”

“… In his TRO ruling, West Virginia Judge John P. Bailey did not specify that the order was for Battle only, lifting the year-in-residence restriction on multi-time transfers for 14 days. He tells the NCAA lawyers that the organization cannot ‘make an athlete sit out a year.'”

Moving forward, it seems as if RaeQuan Battle’s suit could change the way the process works for transfers seeking eligibility waivers. That’s something someone like North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker can get behind, as he dealt with a similar problem during the football season.

Time will tell how the NCAA fights back, but Dellenger noted their appeal is set for Dec. 23, so more information on the matter is to come.

More on RaeQuan Battle, West Virginia Mountaineers

Moreover, the initial saga began when Battle’s initial waiver request was denied this spring, after the former Montana State star decided he wanted to take his talents to West Virginia. 

The NCAA denied Battle’s initial waiver request, and then denied West Virginia’s appeal on his behalf last month, after the NCAA announced more stern guidelines for transfers. The aforementioned guidelines included, “proof that a transfer would enhance a player’s mental health if it had been ‘impaired’ at a previous school,” ESPN’s Myron Medcalf reported.

According to Medcalf, Battle told the NCAA the transfer to West Virginia would be 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 Native American communities,” Medcalf wrote.

Amid all the drama, Battle filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA last week, where he asked a judge to issue a temporary restraining order in his effort to gain immediate eligibility to play. Per ESPN, his lawyers have accused the NCAA of weaponizing waiver requests with inconsistent evaluations.

“For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff asks this Court to judge, hold, and declare that he has an economic right to market and license his name, image and likeness,” stated the complaint filed on Battle’s behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia by attorney Rocky Gianola, via Medcalf. “For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff asks this Court to judge, hold, and declare that he has a right to attend West Virginia University. 

“For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff asks this Court to judge, hold, and declare that he has a right to play on the varsity basketball team at West Virginia University. For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff asks this Court to judge, hold, and declare that he has a right to be treated fairly by the NCAA.”

Now, it seems as if RaeQuan Battle will be able to play for now, at least until the NCAA’s appeal begins.