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Just by looking at Tyus Battle, you can tell he lives in the gym.
The 19-year-old Syracuse Orange shooting guard is in tip-top shape for a freshman in college, and he’s only getting started.
“I gotta keep myself active a little bit so I always like to workout pretty late. I like to stay up pretty late,” Battle told The Daily Orange. “The guys are usually sleeping or something, doing whatever they’re doing.”
When the Orange hit the road, Battle finds himself in the building’s gym late at night while his teammates are asleep. It helps clear his mind, his father, Gary Battle, said.
“Early morning, late night, I think he gets his confidence from spending time in the gym,” Gary said.
If you follow Tyus on social media — Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter — he tends to post his late-night workout sessions on at least one of the three. It’s not for bragging rights, it’s just the norm for him to work out when given free time.
His play has continued to pick up of late, too. He’s scored in double-figures in his last four games, and six of his last nine. That streak includes a career-high 21 points against Boston College at the Carrier Dome last week.
“He’s got a huge upside with what he can do,” head coach Jim Boeheim said, “but he’s been very steady, very solid.”
It’s not only his ability to shoot from three that’s drawing attention from opponents, but it’s his natural ability to take the ball to the basket. He relied on it so much in high school, but shifted away from it early in his freshman season while still gaining confidence.
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Now, he’s doing both at a high level — which is to some surprise of his father.
“He was always good off the dribble, off the pull-up,” Gary said. “What really surprised me (this season) was how he was making catch-and-shoot 3s at a better than 42-percent clip.”
And Boeheim approves of what Tyus is doing for his team.
“I think he’s playing at a high level of confidence,” Boeheim said. “He’s got a huge upside with what he can do but he’s been very steady, very solid.”
Battle and the Orange have another road test in store this Saturday vs. Notre Dame.