Pitt Lands UMass Decommit Class of 2023 Guard Aaryn Battle

Pitt landed a talented class of 2023 guard in Aaryn Battle Saturday night, as she announced her commitment to the program on her Twitter.

#committed💙 pic.twitter.com/rqivh3u8rc

— Aaryn Battle (@aarynbattle24) May 27, 2023

Battle originally committed to UMass and also signed her National Letter of Intent (NLI) to the program. She eventually asked UMass to release her from her NLI in early May, about a month after former UMass head coach Tory Verdi left and joined in the same position at Pitt.

Verdi, along with his new staff in assistant coaches Candice Farley, Ty Margenthaler and Lakale Malone, have been putting in work this past month. They land a talented guard, who Verdi originally signed at UMass and who will now play a large role in rebuilding this Pitt program.

Battle stands at 5-foot-10 and played for Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, N.J. She averaged a career high 16.9 points per game as a senior, along with 5.42 rebounds and 4.04 assists per game, respectively. Battle finished her high school career with 1,218 points, 446 rebounds, 352 assists and 239 steals in 85 games, which is good for an average of 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.8 steals per game, respectively.

She also played for New Heights NYC for her AAU team and is a talented shooter, able to pull up from anywhere on the floor. Battle also excels driving into the paint and using her size to score down low.

🏀 JSZ All-Zone Non-Public Girls Basketball Team Profile: Aaryn Battle, Camden Catholic

The @UMassWBB commit eclipsed 1,000 career points to close out an outstanding career for the Irish.

Meet JSZ's All-Zone Basketball Team ⤵️https://t.co/khk898MXY0@aarynbattle24 @IrishGBB pic.twitter.com/dt9yIv72Yl

— Jersey Sports Zone (@JSZ_Sports) March 21, 2023

Battle arrives as the 11th player on Pitt’s roster for the upcoming 2023-24 season and is the third player incoming in the Class of 2023, along with North Allegheny guard Jasmine Timmerson and forward Lauren Rust.

Battle comes in at a crucial time for the Panthers, as Verdi is trying to build his team up with just four returning players. Nine players have left the program this offseason following the dismissal of head coach Lance White and Class of 2023 recruit Hannah Mills-Watson decommitted, making it 10.

Here is the Pitt Roster listed for the upcoming 2023-24 season and also the departures from the program below it.

2023-24 Pitt Roster + eligibility 

Guards
Junior Mia Simpson: two years (Morton College (JUCO))
Junior Bella Perkins: two years (USC)
Sophomore Marley Washenitz: three years
Sophomore Aislin Malcolm: three years
First-year Aaryn Battle: four years (UMass)
First-year Jasmine Timmerson: four years

Forwards
Graduate Jala Jordan: one year (Seton Hall)
Senior Gabby Hutcherson: two years
Senior Liatu King: two years
Junior Rapuluchi Ayodele: two years (Eastern Florida State/Indian River State (JUCO))
First-year Lauren Rust: four years

Pitt Transfers/Decommits 

Guard
Graduate Dayshanette Harris: one year (Clemson)
Graduate Emy Hayford: one year (Fordham)
Graduate Destiny Strother: one year (Niagara)
Senior Sandrine Clesca: two years (Monmouth)
Senior Taisha Exanor: two years (Monmouth)
Sophomore Avery “Ace” Strickland: three years (Tennessee)

Forward
Graduate forward Amber Brown: one year (St. John’s)
Redshirt senior Cynthia Ezeja: two years (Loyola Marymount)
Junior Maliyah Johnson: two years (Houston)
First-year Hannah Watson: four years (Toronto Metropolitan)