Providence Day, which started 0-4, won back-to-back games in the Charlotte Hoops Challenge over the weekend, including Saturday's win over Independence. Junior forward Zeke Battier, son of former Duke star Shane Battier, discussed By Langston Wertz Jr.| lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
Providence Day junior basketball player Zeke Battier admits the obvious when he talks about being the son of high school, college, professional and international basketball champion Shane Battier.
When asked if there’s pressure being the son of a basketball star, Zeke said: “A little bit. But he helps me with it.”
Providence Day Zeke Battier battles for position, working to free himself for the incoming pass at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge on Nov. 29, 2025, at Harding High School. Kelly Hood Special to The Observer
Shane Battier was a three-time high school state champion at Detroit Country Day, a two-time ACC champion and one-time NCAA champion at Duke, a 13-year NBA player and two-time NBA champion for the Miami Heat and a FIBA World Championship winner in 2006.
So imagine what it’s like in your junior year of high school when your famous father joins the coaching staff.
“Before we moved from Florida, he was coaching high school at Ransom Everglades in Miami,” Zeke Battier said. “So it wasn’t that much of a surprise.”
The Battiers — younger sister Eloise plays soccer for the Chargers — are part of a perennially strong athletic program that annually competes for state titles in virtually every sport.
A year ago, Providence Day’s basketball team finished 27-5 overall and advanced to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association semifinals.
But head coach Ron Johnson had to step away for health reasons and assistant Jonathan McIntyre was promoted to head coach. Shane Battier was added as an assistant coach, as well as former Providence Day head coach Brian Field, who led the team to the 2016 state championship and a berth in the then-DICKS’ national championships in New York. “There was sort of an ‘all hands on deck’ scenario at Providence Day, and they were looking for somebody to help,” said Shane Battier, who says his Hall of Fame Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski applauded his decision to get into coaching. “Luckily I had a break in my schedule and that’s why I’m here.
“And I enjoy the game, enjoy teaching the game and I had amazing coaches that not only made me a better basketball player, but made me a better person.”
Providence Day assistant coach Shane Battier shouts instructions to the team in a November game. Kelly Hood Special to the Observer
Shane Battier says he called his son “Zeke Buckets” as early as 3 years old because he was always dribbling a basketball.
“I heard a lot of stories,” Zeke Battier said of his father’s basketball success. “When I was younger, he introduced me to all of that. And I went to all of his basketball games.”
Eighteen months ago, the Battiers moved to Charlotte from the Miami suburb of Coral Gables.
“I just wanted a change of scenery,” said Shane Battier, whose No. 31 jersey was retired at Duke after he was named consensus national player of the year in 2001. “It’s been a great transition. We really enjoy the Queen City. The people here are fantastic, and the basketball is great.”
McIntyre, who had served as an assistant coach for 19 years before this season, is delighted to have him on the coaching staff.
“He’s such a good person and a good parent,” McIntyre said. “We just try to take advantage of all of his basketball knowledge. He mentors our players, but he also mentors our coaches as well. It’s a pretty cool situation.
“I think him and his wife (Heidi) and whole family have bought into the Providence Day culture. Everybody on campus loves them. They participate in a lot of different things.”
Zeke Battier harbors hopes of following in his father’s footsteps — and thinks the state of North Carolina is a great place for it to happen.
“I’d say I get a little more publicity because he’s known more here,” Zeke Battier said. “It’s a good thing and a bad thing. But it’s been a positive move because basketball gets so much attention here.
“And I want to go Division I and play basketball.”
Said McIntyre of Zeke Battier: “He’s a great basketball player. He’s definitely a college basketball player. At what level, we’ll see. He’s got so much potential for growth. He gets better every time he’s on the floor.”