Battle family continues to produce athletic excellence
OSWEGO, Ill. (BVM) — If you’re a basketball fan in Illinois, you know the name Kenny Battle. The hoops standout starred in high school at West Aurora, and later went on to play in college at Northern Illinois, eventually transferring to the University of Illinois.
After helping the Illini to the Final Four in 1989, Battle was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft the same year by the Detroit Pistons, and traded on draft day to the Phoenix Suns. The Illinois native had a four-year playing career in the NBA, and has since gone on to play overseas while also taking up coaching.
There is a laundry list of honors Battle has received throughout his basketball career, but perhaps one of the most special is seeing his jersey honored at the State Farm Center as a member of the Illini’s all-century team.
Since Battle’s playing days have passed, his six kids have kept the family legacy going, and continue to do so better than ever. Currently, Battle has three children who are college athletes. Son Keion is just beginning his tenure on the Northern Illinois football team as a wide receiver.
Meanwhile, Kamron Battle also just began his time at Northern Illinois on the men’s basketball team, joining the Huskies last winter as a walk-on.
Perhaps the member of the Battle family making the biggest waves currently is daughter, Ty, who is coming off a tremendous college basketball season at the University of Delaware. After an impressive high school career at Oswego East, Ty played two seasons at Indiana State University. Transfer rules would force her to sit out the 2019-2020 campaign, but she returned better than ever last winter.
During the 2020-21 season, Ty averaged a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds per game. Her 19 double-doubles across the season led the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), and were second in the entire nation across Division I women’s basketball players.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨Get you a teammate and a player like @Ty_battle33 🏀🔥😤 Consistent on and off the court. We before Me attitude. Always positive and truly a servant leader!!! We are all so very proUD of you 💙💛 #AOW #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/Wl4RK7a9Jk
— Natasha Adair (@CoachAdair) May 19, 2021
Ty was named a first team all-conference player, and also made the all-defensive and all-tournament teams in the CAA. She also helped the Blue Hens to the WNIT semifinals, where they would fall to eventual champion, Rice.
Not to be out done, son Kacey Battle continues to make headlines as an athlete at Oswego East. The junior is a football standout for the Wolves, but has also excelled as a track athlete.
Competing in the high jump for the first time this spring, Kacey won the Southwest Prairie Conference title with a personal-best jump of 6-4.75.
My son Kacey just jumped 6’5 to win Conferance, he’s only a junior and this is his first time High jumping and he makes it look 👀 so easy!!!! @CoachFrazierILL @IlliniMBB @IlliniAthletics @IllinoisOnBTN @GoHuskiesMBB pic.twitter.com/ZgwiTvZMmu
— Kenny Battle (@KennyBattle33) June 7, 2021
He continued his success in the Class 3A sectionals, jumping 6-2.75 to qualify for state.
Congratulations Kacey Battle! High Jump State Qualifier! pic.twitter.com/QcinUOUxNk
— Oswego East Men's Cross Country and Track & Field (@OEHSmensXCTF) June 10, 2021
Kacey will now set his sights on the IHSA state championships held next week. He along with each of his siblings continue to make their father proud as the Battle family adds to its tremendous legacy.