Boys’ basketball: Freshman Riley Battin proves his star quality for Oak Park
Everybody seemed to know that 6-foot-7 freshman Riley Battin would be very good this season at Oak Park. But few knew he’d emerge as one of the best first-year players in the state.
On stats alone, Battin is a candidate for top freshman in California. He’s averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game for the 20-7 Eagles going into their 1AA playoff game on Tuesday night at Long Beach Millikan.
“He’s a special player,” Coach Aaron Shaw said. “What’s nice about him is when teams start to double him, he’s just as unselfish. He competes. He really wants to win and will do whatever he can. He listens. He works very hard.”
Another Oak Park freshman, Wesley Slajchert, has come on strong playing point guard. He’s averaging 9.6 points.
If Battin and Slajchert stick around Oak Park for another three years, the Eagles figure to be very good.
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