[3] He was a two-time all-state selection and named the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as a senior.

[3] He has a younger brother, Boyd Batts, who was also a high school basketball star who later played professionally for 15 years in Europe and South America.

[6] As a sophomore in 1971–72, Batts led the Bearcats in scoring with 18.7 points per game as the team, coached by Tay Baker, posted a 17–9 record.

[7] As a junior under new coach Gale Catlett,[7] the Bearcats were again 17–9 and Batts again led the team in scoring with 20.1 points per game and was named third-team All-American by Basketball Weekly.

[7] As a senior in 1973–74, team captain Batts led the Bearcats in scoring for the third season with 21.3 points per game while also leading in assists per game and free throw percentage for the 19–8 team which lost in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

[11] In 1978, he signed a non-guaranteed two-year contract with the NBA's Chicago Bulls, but he was cut from the team prior to summer league play.