NBA Draft Prospects: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

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Stats: 14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 57.5% FG, 34% 3PT

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 223 lb, 21 yrs old
  
• Combine: 6'9 1/4" (in shoes), 240 lb, 7'1 1/4" (wingspan
  

About Him: Generally speaking, when you leave the collegiate ranks with eligibility left, you want to do so after having a really good season, at the very least showing improvement from the year before.

Not Patrick Patterson. Considered a potential lottery pick had he left after his sophomore season, Patterson returned to Kentucky as the chance to play for John Calipari alongside an extremely talented group of freshman -- and make an NCAA Tournament appearance -- was more appealing than pursuing the NBA. As a result, Patterson's numbers took a bit of a hit, as he had, statistically, the worst season of his collegiate career. But in doing so, he may have made himself more attractive to NBA teams.

You see, Patterson probably isn't destined to be a star in the league. He's got good size (over 6'9" in shoes), excellent length (7'2"), and definitely has the frame to be an NBA four, and while he's a good athlete, Patterson is far from a Chris Bosh or a Gerald Wallace in terms of physical tools. In other words, he's not the kind of athlete to go over, go around, or go through a defender.

Offensively, there are some things to like about Patterson. He's an excellent finisher in and around the rim. While he's not like a Dwight Howard -- he probably won't be making too many highlight reel dunks -- his strong frame allows him to absorb contact, and he's difficult to block with that 7'2" wingspan. His post game is solid as well. He doesn't have an overwhelming array of back-to-the-basket moves, but what he does have in his arsenal -- a nice jump hook, a couple power moves -- is effective.

One of the most notable improvements that Patterson has made this season is that he has added the ability to knock down a perimeter jumper with range to the college three point line. While he is strictly a catch-and-shoot (with a lot of time) guy right now, Patterson has actually showed pretty solid form on the perimeter, and the fact that he has always been a decent free throw shooter (despite the 69% he shot this season) makes it believable that this aspect of his game could develop even more.

The next aspect of Patterson's game that he needs to develop is his face-up game. Prior to this season, Patterson was essentially a center for his entire life, playing with-in 8 feet of the rim and using his size and strength to do his damage. With Cousins on the roster this year, Patterson was forced to spend much more time on the perimeter, which he will be doing in the NBA as well. While that jumper developed, Patterson still struggled when he was forced to put the ball on the floor and create, which is understandable. That should develop with time and effort, and given the improvement to that jumper -- and his work in the class room, graduating in three years -- its pretty evident that Patterson is a hard worker and a quick learner.

If there is a knock on Patterson, it is that he doesn't always play as strong as he is. Patterson is a big, muscular guy, but he tends to get pushed around in the paint, both defensively and when boxing out. He's never been a great defensive rebounder (he is a good offensive rebounder, however), although the terrible numbers he had this year were likely a result of spending more time on the perimeter and the emergence of DeMarcus Cousins as a human mountain, or post defender, which is something NBA teams will be looking for from him as a role player at the next level.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: I really like the Carl Landry comparison. I think Patterson is exactly that kind of player. I think a rich man's Paul Millsap also works.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: Leon Powe the year he won a ring with the Celtics, or a Brandon Bass kind of player. Either way, I expect Patterson to be a solid contributor for a decade in the league.
  

Outlook: Patrick Patterson does a lot of things well on a basketball court; there are a lot of reasons to believe that he will be a valuable asset in the NBA. But perhaps the most ideal part about Patterson right now is that he has proven that stats don't matter to him. He is fine deferring to more talented teammates. That's why his numbers took a hit this season, and why he was fine changing position with Cousins and Daniel Orton joining the fray. He's a talented, hand-working big man with size, length, and athleticism that doesn't mind playing second or third, or even fourth, fiddle. I don't see any reason he won't be a valuable role player at the next level.

Highlights:





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Patrick Patterson to participate in Senior Day

According to a very well respected Kentucky sportswriter, Patrick Patterson will be celebrating his senior night on Sunday afternoon alongside Perry Stevenson, Ramon Harris, and Mark Krebs.

There has been no official announcement that Patterson will be part of the Senior Day ceremony and Patterson has yet to confirm he will enter the NBA Draft when the season ends. But both are going to happen.

Patterson is just a junior, but he will be receiving his degree at the end of this semester and in all-likelihood is headed to the NBA.

Patrick Patterson will apparently be participating in this year's Senior Day.
(photo credit: MSNBC)

This is not unheard of. UConn's Emeka Okafor graduated in three years and participated in Senior Night as a junior in 2004.

No one should be surprised, or upset, if Patterson actually does leave school. The kid will have completed his degree and is headed for the lottery. To be perfectly honest, I would have supported Patterson going pro after last season.

I'm not a Kentucky fan by any stretch, but Patterson is one of the guys that I find myself rooting for. A good kid and hard worker, he was stuck putting up all-american caliber numbers for a NIT-caliber coach in his first two seasons. When he came back this season, he was more than willing to take a back seat to the uber-talented freshmen populating Kentucky's roster. A star his first two seasons, Patterson had no issues embracing his new role as a screener, a rebounder, and (believe it or not) a jump shooter.

In fact, Patterson might have even improved his draft stock. We all know how much ability Patterson has, but I still don't know if he will ever be a star in the NBA. If he proved anything this season it is that he is a team player; that he has no qualms doing his job and playing his role.

An athletic and strong 6'9" forward with all-american talent as a post, the ability to knock down a 20 footer jumper, the smarts to graduate in three years, and the selflessness to be a role player when necessary?

What team wouldn't want Patterson?

I'm calling it now - Patterson will be our generation's version of Charles Oakley, only friendly.
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President Obama gives UK a call, gets challenged to a game of horse by John Wall

10 days ago, on the first Sunday after the earthquake that hit Haiti, Kentucky held a fundraiser called Hoops for Haiti that raised $1.3 million to help aid Haitian recovery efforts.

We lauded them for it after it happened.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Obama did as well. Have a look:



First reaction?

I think that's the first time I've ever seen Calipari look in anyway nervous.

Second reaction?

(Insert corny, played out Obama-jinx joke here).

Third reaction?

LOVED DeMarcus Cousins telling Obama that he was looking forward to meeting him at the White House (although, I wonder how Kentuckians will take that).

In all seriousness, it was great what the Wildcats were able to accomplish, and even better that they are being rewarded for it. $1.3 million is a lot of money.

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
There are the power forwards.

Best Freshman:

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
• DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
• Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State
  

Best of the Rest:

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
• Stanley Robinson, UConn
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech
• Deon Thompson, UNC
  

Top 10:

• 10. Matt Howard, Butler: Howard is a guy that doesn't get a lot of press playing for Butler. But make no mistake, Howard is as good as any four in the country. Howard is what you might refer to as a land warrior - he isn't going to outquick or outjump anyone in the country, but he is so strong. An excellent rebounder with a solid back to the basket game, Howard's strength offensively is his ability to seal and hold position in the post. He is the rock for a talented Butler team.
  


• 9. Damion James, Texas: A lot was expected out of James last season, but he didn't quite live up to the hype he received in the preseason. A big reason for that is James was asked to play more minutes on the perimeter with the emergence of a big front line for Texas. The biggest strength of James' game is his ability to rebound the ball on the offensive end and how well he cuts to the basket and finishes at the rim. His back to the basket game is decent, but playing more minutes on the perimeter will limit his touches inside. James is dangerous offensively because he is not only able to shoot the ball, but he has some ability to put the ball on the floor and go around a bigger defender. James is forever a tweener - not really big enough to be a four, but lacking the true perimeter skills to be a three.
  


• 8. Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Last year, all anyone talked about when it came to Marquette was their guard play. While those three were definitely talented, Hayward might have been the most valuable player on the roster as the only real big man. Hayward, who is a converted small forward, in dangerous because of his perimeter skills. Without much in the way of a post game, Hayward does his damage shooting the ball and taking advantage of the mismatches when a big forward guards him on the perimeter. Also an excellent rebounder, expect big numbers out of Hayward this year as Marquette's go-to player offensively.
  

Lazar Hayward is counting to be counted on heavily by Marquette.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• 7. Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks is as raw as a prospect comes. In terms of tools, there are few forwards that match him. He has the wingspan of an albatross, can run the floor, has above average athleticism, and plays hard. All of that made him an excellent defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. But the rest of his game still needs to be developed. His ball handling ability is not much more than the one or two dribbles it takes to for to get to the rim. His jumper was so inconsistent last year that he himself actually decided that he would not longer shoot outside jumpers. But with Alex Ruoff gone, and an offseason of developing his skills, Ebanks should be ready to turn into one of the best forwards in the Big East.
  


• 6. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu is another guy I'm not completely sold on. Right now, he relies almost exclusively on his tools. He is long, athletic, plays with energy, and has excellent body control. Last year he was at his best when he was able to get out in the open court and outrun the defense. His skills were quite raw, however. While his handle and his jump shot no doubt improved with an off-season of working out, Aminu has a long way to go before he can be considered "talented" skillwise and a threat in the half court. All that said, we are talking about a guy that averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg on a team with a big front line, Jeff Teague, and James Johnson. Imagine what he will do as the first offensive option.
  

Al-Farouq Aminu will need to rely on more than just athleticism this season.
(photo credit: freewebs)

• 5. Trevor Booker, Clemson: Booker is one of the best athletes in the country. While there are a number of guys at the power forward position that have more talent than Booker, there are few that play with his aggressiveness and determination. Every second he is on the court, he is going hard - whether it is defensively, posting up, hitting the glass, cutting to the rim. Booker seems to have an endless supply of energy. He doesn't have the best back to the basket game, relying heavily on his physical tools (strength holding position, jumping over a defender) to score. Where he has become more effective, and where he needs to improve to make it at the next level, is in his perimeter game. If he can continue to get better putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket and keep improving his jump shot, Booker has a shot at winning the ACC player of the year award.
  


• 4. Greg Monroe, Georgetown: Monroe is the perfect fit for the Princeton offense that JTIII likes to run. Standing 6'11", Monroe has the offensive skills of a point forward. He can use the dribble to get to the basket, he can knock down a perimeter jumper, and he has excellent court vision and passing instincts. There are really three aspects of his game that Monroe needs to improve to become a dominant forward in the Big East. He needs to improve his ability with his right hand - he struggles dribbling and finishing in that direction. He needs to improve his strength and toughness in the paint offensively, defensively, and on the glass. Most importantly, he needs to be able to assert dominance on a game. There are few players with the talent that Monroe has, but how many times last season did you find yourself thinking "Greg Monroe has taken this game over"?
  


• 3. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins, at the college level, is a match-up nightmare. Standing 6'10", Brackins has the ball handling and the quickness to get by bigger defenders that try to come out and guard him on the perimeter. If you don't guard him, or if a smaller, quicker defender is on him, Brackins is a very dangerous shooter out to about 17 feet. Where Brackins has really developed during his first two seasons is with his toughness and his aggresiveness. He came with 17 rebounds of averaging a double-double last season, and has the makings of what could turn into a solid back-to-the-basket game.
  


• 2. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Patterson proved last season to be one of the most dominant and efficient players in the country. Patterson's just 6'8", but his length, his athleticism, and his strength make him so difficult to handle on the block. He has a solid righty hook and an above average turn around jumper, but his ability in the post centers around how good he is at establishing position. He seals hard, and really understands how to use his body to hold off his defender. He showed some improved ball skills last season, and if he can develop a consistent jumper this season, Patterson will be near unstoppable this year.
  

Harangody's biggest improvement during his career has been his jumper.
(photo credit: basketme)

• 1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: If there is an argument against Luke Harangody as the best power forward in the country, I cannot think of it. The guy can average 25 and 12 this year, and I won't be surprised. By now, you should know Gody's game. An underwhelming athlete, Gody struggles going against bigger opponents with his back to the basket. But over the course of his career, the big fella has developed an excellent face-up game. He has developed range out beyond the three point line (and showed NBA three point range during the draft process). The biggest improvement in his game is his fitness - Gody looked as svelte and in shape as he ever has during the draft process.
  

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Pre-season Player of the Year

ESPN currently has a poll up where you can rank the 15 favorites for national player of the year.

Player of the year is usually a tricky award to pick. Is it the best player in the country? The best player on the best team? The guý who had the best season? The most valuable player? (It is actually really easy when a kid takes home each superlative a la Blake Griffin last year).

Case in point: the Michael Beasley versus Tyler Hansbrough debate. Beasley was clearly the more talented kid and was projected by most to be a better NBA prospect. But Hansbrough won a lot of the player of the year awards because he played for a Final Four team surrounded by fellow future first rounders.

Things will probably change as the season progresses, but as of right now the player of the year voting looks to be wide open. Are there enough shots available on one team for guys like Patrick Patterson or John Wall to win? Will Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich split votes? Can Luke Harangody or Craig Brackins lead their teams to a good enough season to be considered? Will freshman Derrick Favors be good enough to compete for the award?

Follow the jump for my five pre-season favorites.

5. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: 17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg

PP may very well be the post power forward in the country (which is saying a lot given the depth at that position). But he also plays on a team that is very talented and deep, especially in the front court.

Patrick Patterson
(photo credit: US Presswire)

John Wall, UK's freshman point guard, is talented enough to make a run at some postseason awards (he was the only freshman in Katz's top 15) while the rest of the Wildcat's front line (Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins, and Perry Stevenson) is good enough to start, and possibly make an all-conference team, just about anywhere else in the country.

Patterson will, no doubt, be the centerpiece of the Wildcats offense, but will there be enough shots to go around? Perhaps the bigger question is how will he perform in Coach Cal's dribble-drive motion offense, an offense in which guards tend to thrive?


4. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: 14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

Aldrich was a beast in his breakout sophomore season. I'd argue he was the third most intimidating defensive presence in college basketball last year (behind Thabeet and Varnado), and was a much more dominant offensive force than either of those two.

Cole Aldrich
(photo credit: You Got Dunked On)

Already a monster on the glass, where Aldrich needs to improve is in his back to the basket game. While he did score almost 15 a game last year, a large majority of that came off of drop-offs, putbacks, free throws, and 15-17 foot jumpers. You rarely saw Aldrich use his outstanding length for a jump hook or turnaround J. If that post game develops this season, he should become college ball's most dominant big man on both ends.


3. Sherron Collins, Kansas: 18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg

Collins really proved his ability to carry a team last year. As basically the only returner (Aldrich played about 8 mpg as a freshman) from a national title team, Collins led the Baby Jayhawks to a Big XII crown and a Sweet 16 berth.

Sherron Collins
(photo credit: NY Post)

You can expect Collins to have another excellent season leading KU, and given the wealth of talent on the Jayhawks, a national title is within reach. But when you have (arguably) the best point guard and best center in the country on the pre-season #1 team in the country, it is feasible that the two players could split votes. Given that Collins put up better numbers and took (and made) so maný big shots last year, I'm giving him the nod over Aldrich.


Craig Brackins, Iowa State: 20.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg

Brackins surprised a lot of people back in April when he decided to return to school. After averaging almost a double-double for an undermanned Iowa State team.

Craig Brackins
(photo credit: Flickr)

Brackins is a match-up nightmare. He can face-up and either knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. But as a sophomore last season, Brackins showed an improved ability in the post, scoring with his back to the basket and showing much better toughness going to the glass. He doesn't have much help on his team, which can be a good and bad thing. While he may put up huge numbers, his efficiency stats will take a hit and his team won't get much national exposure.


1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: 23.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Yup, I'm going with Harangody as the pre-season favorite for player of the year. Why? Because the big fella is going to put up huge numbers this year for Notre Dame. Seriously, not only would it not surprise me if he went for 25 and 12 this year, but I expect him too.

Luke Harangody
(photo credit: Double the Post)

And 'Gody can play. He is fantastic on the block, where he uses his incredibly quick feet (the kid would win Dancing with the Stars hands down) and ability to seal and hold position to counteract his relative lack of height and athleticism. But he has also developed a solid face-up game and now is a threat out to the college three-point line. Given the progress he had made getting in shape for the Draft combine, I would expect him to be in Herculean condition come November.

But more than anything, the bottom line is that he has an actual chance at averaging 25 and 12 in the Big East. And while the Big East may be a bit watered down this year, that is still an amazing number.
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Patrick Patterson: Ready for a breakout season?

Well, maybe breakout season isn't the correct term. Is it really possible to "breakout" when you averaged 16 and 7 as a freshman and 18 and 9 as a sophomore?

No one is saying that Patrick Patterson is not already a beast. Standing at 6'9", 240 lb of muscle, Patterson has become arguably the best power forward in the country and will be the focal point for a team that many expect to make a push for the Final Four.

18 and 9 (and 2 blocks, I might add) is a pretty impressive stat line. Enough to have made him a lottery pick had he left Kentucky after last season.

Why, given the influx of talented newcomers to Lexington, should we expect Patterson to explode this season?

Patrick Patterson has spent this summer working out with Blake Griffin's trainer.
(photo credit: Kentucky Sports Radio)

It's simple really. Patterson, and freshman teammate Daniel Orton, are spending the summer working out with Frank Mastriciano. That's the same guy that Blake Griffin worked out with last summer, and we all know how that turned out.

So should we expect a player of the year type season out of Patterson?

It wouldn't surprise me, but I wouldn't bet on it either. There are two major differences between Patterson and Griffin. For starters, they are a different breed of power forward. Griffin is more coordinated and has better ball skills, which allows him to play some out on the perimeter. No knock on PP, but he is not the athletic specimin Griffin is. Griffin's offensive repertoire was, as a result, much more diverse - he could score in the paint, he could hit a 17 footer, he could face up and blow by on the perimeter, and he could run the break as a wing or leading it. Patterson is more of a strictly post-up, pound-it-down-low kind of guy.

The other, and probably more important, factor is what the two players have surrounding them. Until Willie Warren came on at the end of the season, it was basically the Blake Griffin show in Norman. Austin Johnson, Taylor Griffin, Tony Crocker - these guys were good role players, but none of them really had much NBA potential.

Now look at UK's roster. John Wall could have been the first pick in this year's draft. DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, and maybe even Darnell Dodson are legitimate NBA prospects. It doesn't take a genius to figure out Kentucky has talent from top to bottom.

And with that talent comes the need for shots and for playing time. Is Patterson going to get 36 minutes a game with Orton, Cousins, and Perry Stevenson joining him up front? Is he going to get enough post touches with talents like Wall, Dodson, and Eric Bledsoe on the perimeter?

The answer? Probably not.

But just because he doesn't post 22 and 13 doesn't mean Patterson isn't the best four in the country.

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Patrick Patterson Returning to School

The big news of the day comes from Lexington (where else): Kentucky announced that Patrick Patterson, an all-conference forward with a shot at landing late in the lottery, will be returning to school.

UK is stacked right now, especially up front, where their rotation will be Patterson, junior Perry Stevenson, and five-star recruits Daniel Orton and Demarcus Cousins. That may turn out to be the best front line in the country. UK also adds Jon Hood, Darnell Dodson (four-star recruits), and top 3 point guard recruit Eric Bledsoe, who committed to the 'Cats earlier this week.

Combine that with returners like Kevin Galloway, DeAndre Liggins, and Ramon Harris, and you have a Final Four favorite.

Now imagine if Jodie Meeks returns and Cal inks John Wall (like many expect he will).

He's been the coach for less than two months, and we may already have a dynasty brewing.

You think he was worth the $32 million?

Going beyond that, Patterson has a chance to be a first-team all-american, joining the likes of Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, Willie Warren, Craig Brackins, and a number of others returning to school.

One thing is for certain: 2009-2010 will not be lacking star power. Continue reading...