Temple MBB Alumni Spotlight: Derrick Battie

A four-year starter for the Temple from 1992-96, Derrick Battie was a key part in helping the Owls to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including an Elite Eight appearance his freshman year in 1993.

The Dallas native pulled down 651 rebounds during his four-year, 123-game career, which ranks 16th on Temple's all-time list. He also scored 840 career points, with some of his biggest games coming against Temple's toughest opponents.

Following his Temple career that included 82 wins, he played professional basketball overseas as well as the CBA, before becoming a fixture for inner city youth in Dallas.   He currently is a community liaison at his alma mater, Dallas South Oak Cliff High School.

Talk about your decision to come to Temple to play for John Chaney.

"In 1992 I started getting recruited by a lot of teams outside of Texas, like Arizona State, Kansas, Temple, Arkansas, Arkansas Little Rock, and Michigan. They were all schools in my Top 10 that I visited prior to selecting Temple. The biggest factor for me was Coach John Chaney. He emulated someone who I saw as successful. He was an African American coach and leader at a time when we did not have many in college basketball. So that was my deciding factor. It was a social decision. As a young man coming from a poor community, I had to decide where I wanted to go to play college basketball and who I wanted to play for. John Chaney represented everything that kept me humble, kept me rooted, and grounded. He was a voice that was similar to the voices I had around my house, and I wanted to play for an African American coach. Up to that point I had only played for great white coaches. So in the end it was between Temple and Kansas, coached by Roy Williams, and Temple won out. I am glad we would turn around and beat them (twice) during my career."

How was your transition to college and your first year with Coach Chaney?

"That freshman year was difficult for all of the new players, but for me, I was coming from Dallas South Oak Cliff High School and we had just gone to two back-to-back state title games. We finished second in my junior year in 1991 and ended up winning it in 1992. I ended up being named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year for the state of Texas, then going to Temple and fighting off some tough competition to earn a starting spot as a freshman. Coach Chaney does not start many freshmen, so that was an achievement. That year was also difficult for many reasons, including my grandmother losing her daughter. Coach got a call and said you have to get home. He was very instrumental in mentoring through that situation, guiding me to resources to help (financially) get me home and back. He was there for me as a father figure that was a really tumultuous time as me and my grandmother are really close. Coach was always there for me as a student and as an athlete."

What happened the summer between your freshman and sophomore seasons?

"We always used to work with the youth basketball at McGonigle Hall. Temple players would go and help out. I was blessed enough to work out at the Gustine Lake Gym camps with John Hardnett. There would be NBA players there, like Aaron McKie, Eddie Jones, Rick Brunson, Jason Lawson, Alvin Williams, Kerry Kittles, and Malike Rose. We all would work out there in what was called the 'Summer Pro Workouts.'   I was blessed to be in those workouts.   In 2005, I created the same format here for a summer camp for aspiring young kids in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. The camp is totally free to the kids and we bring in coaches and food with the support of my brother (Tony Battie) and Paul Pierce. It is a grueling camp. It is not a camp where you get a tee shirt and an autograph card. It has a Philly nature and grit to it. Shirts off, slick floor, no air conditioning, water, and minimum snacks. Like Coach Chaney used to say, 'Just bread and water.' My kids have gone through it as well.   I think whenever you have this type of summer preparation it makes a difference."

What stands out the most from your career at Temple?

"So many moments. Going to the NCAA Tournament, that whole experience. To be one of the 64 teams out of over 300 schools. Coach Chaney would always say the goal of a college team is to be in the Big Dance. So for me, my biggest memories are going to an Elite Eight, earning four NCAA watches, which were so coveted back in the day, playing in the Sweet 16s, playing against teams with NBA talent on them like Wake Forest, Michigan, George Washington, Villanova, and playing the toughest schedule in college basketball.   Those are things I take away from my time at Temple."

Following your Temple career that included over 100 starts and four trips to the NCAA Tournament, you played professionally overseas. Talk about that time in your life.

"As players, we always want to play at the highest level. In 1996 I was courted by the NBA. I attended the combine in Chicago run by Marty Blake. I was on the list of six teams to be potentially drafted but went undrafted.   I ended up going to the Seattle Supersonics' veterans camp. They thought I needed a little bit more work offensively coming from a defensive-minded school. I then went overseas for a couple of years and came back and played in the summer league with the Lakers and the Celtics. I ended up blowing my knee out in Boston in 1999 while playing on a team with Paul Pierce and my younger brother Tony. At that point, the lead surgeon for the Celtics, Dr. Brian McKeon, asked if I had ever considered anything else outside of basketball because he had never seen an injury like this.   It just crushed me, but I continued to play in the CBA and I had a great experience.   I was on the bus when Isaiah Thomas, the CEO of the CBA, closed the league down.

After six years of playing on and off, I got to touch the NBA. I got to watch my younger brother, Tony, become the number five overall draft pick and play 16 seasons. My best friend is Paul Pierce so I have not missed any NBA games or experiences outside of the pay.

After my career was over I promised my mom that if anything stopped me from playing professional basketball, I would go back to Temple and finish my degree which I did in 2001. I am proud of that feat as I am any other accomplishment."

The last 20 years you have become a true "Hometown Hero" in the Dallas area. Talk about how you have given back to your community.

"I was blessed to come back to Dallas when my grandmother was going through an end-of-life transition. That is what brought me back from Philadelphia, where I had been living. Coming back and then being hired at my old high school, which brags about having the most professional athletes in the state of Texas, to serve in this community, which is one of the toughest in southern Dallas and very similar to North Philly, has been a labor of love. They needed strong black men in a strong black school in southern Dallas, so I lent my name and my brand as a credible messenger from this community to help these young kids. I took the position over 20 years ago. I have loved working as a community liaison for my hometown, and like they say when you love what you do you never work a day in your life.   Coming back to work at Dallas South Oak Cliff with Dallas Independent School District has been a joy."

Link to feature story on Derrick Battie and his community service during Covid

7) Looking back on your career, what words of advice would you give to the current Temple players?

"This may be a cliché term in Philadelphia now, but it does fit here – Trust the Process. When you come to Philadelphia, embrace the city and embrace the Temple culture. It is a little different but very rewarding. Trust Coach Fisher and his staff. They know what they are doing. I believe they are going to put together a great program that is going to allow us to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Also, be a family. Coach Chaney was always big on – Team Together, Team Together. Love each other. Trust the Process. Stay with the program, dedicate yourself to the program, and reap all the benefits like myself and all of the other alums have received for being a part of Temple Basketball."

Temple University Athletics

Temple MBB Alumni Spotlight: Derrick Battie

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