Patterson has not declared for draft yet or hired agent
April 7th, 2010 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Tywanna Patterson thought it was just going to be another ordinary day, or as ordinary as days could be since the University of Kentucky lost to West Virginia almost two weeks ago in the NCAA Tournament.
Instead, while she was at the mall in Huntington, W.Va., Wednesday night, she started getting text messages, voice mails and phone calls from friends congratulating her on her son, Patrick, leaving UK for the NBA.
“I thought, ‘What are you talking about.’ Then I found out UK released a statement saying Patrick and the four freshmen are leaving for the NBA and will declare for the draft,” said Tywanna Patterson Wednesday night. “I said, ‘Really, nobody told me.”
Since her son is 21, she thought maybe he had made that decision on his own even though when she last saw him Sunday the plan remained for him to wait a few more weeks to make his final decision about whether to return to the Wildcats for his senior season or not. Underclassmen have until April 25 to declare for the draft and have until May 8 to withdraw their name from the draft even though Patterson would not have that option since he did that last year. The 2010 NBA Draft will take place on June 24.
She tried to call her son but could not get him to answer his cell phone. Next she called DeWayne Peevy of the UK sports information office. He told her the statement from UK “wasn’t official” but that coach John Calipari had released a statement that the freshmen along with Patrick would be declaring for the NBA draft and leaving UK.
Once her son called her back, he told her he still intended to think about it a “week or two and then make a decision” just as they planned.
“We were confused people by then,” she said. “I have a problem with it going out and not being official. It is his decision. He has not declared for the draft and once he does he can’t back out because he declared for the draft last year. But I am very upset with all this because the statement Patrick gave to DeWayne, he didn’t know it was being released tonight.’
Tywanna Patterson also tried to call coach John Calipari, but he did not return her phone call.
“Me personally, I think it is Cal’s way to get recruits to commit and wants to make sure they know John (Wall), DeMarcus (Cousins), Daniel (Orton) and Eric (Bledsoe) are gone along with Patrick,” Tywanna Patterson said. “Pat didn’t know they were sending that statement out tonight.”
Her son asked her to not comment on what happened because it didn’t impact what he had planned. If he does declare for the draft, he plans to call a press conference to explain his decision just as he did last year when he returned to UK.
However, she still wants to make it clear that he has not signed any papers declaring for the draft — and he has not hired an agent as was being reported Wednesday night.
“I have had agents contacting me through various people and friends. We have not signed anything with anyone,” Tywanna Patterson said.
She hopes Kentucky will release an official statement today clarifying the situation. Patrick Patterson ranked second in the SEC and 12th nationally in field goal percentage (.575) last season and he ranks 13th on Kentucky’s all-time scoring list (1,564) and sixth on Kentucky’s career double-double list with 30.
“I want to thank the fans who have supported me all three years,” Patrick Patterson said in the release from UK. “I also want to thank the coaches for putting me in a position to showcase other parts of my game as well as my versatility. Lexington and UK will always be a special place to me.”
Tywanna Patterson said Peevy apologized to her and told her he thought Patrick Patterson understood a statement was being released.
“But they made it sound like Patrick was leaving for sure. My son has not yet decided. Maybe he will go, maybe he won’t,” she said. “This wasn’t done in a good way.
“We are going to do it right if Patrick does leave. That is how Patrick is. He will have a press conference and tell people what is going on. It will be his day and his decision. That’s the way it should be and not the way this was handled.”
Posted in UK Basketball
Agree that some on here have jumped the gun when criticizing Cal’s intentions. Nothing has transpired to warrant that kind of talk. Yes, we all love PPat AND most of us love Cal too – can’t we do both!
I somehow don’t think the wonderful Patterson Family will miss all of the off the court drama.
MRS PATTERSON YOU AND BUSTER ARE CLASS PEOPLE ALSO YOUR SON IS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, I JUST READ HIS BLOG WHERE HE SAID A WEEK OR SO BACK THAT HE THANK THE PEOPLE OF KY. FOR THE 3 YEARS HE SPENT AT KY AND THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS A PART OF KY.SO WHY WOULD WE NOT EXPECT HIM TO GO TO THE NBA AFTER MAKING SUCH A STATEMENT. IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE YOUR PRESS CONFERECE YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD CAL SO. YOU GAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST CAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KY ANOTHER WAY TO HURT KY RECURTING. I AM SORRY YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU DO BUT I THINK YOU COULD HAVE HANDLED THE SITUATIONS IN A BETTER WAY.
Good afternoon and thank you Larry and fans for understanding. As you know, Patrick feels a strong connection to the fans and loves the fan base and UKY as well. It is his plan to issue his final and official decision on his own terms and in his own way as he did when he chose to return to UKY. Whatever his decision, he wants to be given that chance to address the fan base as well. Perhaps the freshmen may want to do that as well, I am not sure. I understand that Cal has recruiting to do and that’s a big part of his job, so be it. Cal has a job to do and so do I as a parent. I am moving on from this and going to concentrate on preparing for Graduation and keeping Patrick focused on completing his classes and final exams. Thanks Big Blue Nation for supporting Patrick and this special team. I have definitely learned a lot as a parent of a student athlete!!
TYWANNA YOU ARE STILL CLASS PEOPLE TO ME BUT WE ALL HAVE OUR WAY OF DOING THINGS THE THING I DISLIKE ABOUT THE COMPUTER IT GIVES SPORT WRITERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE US TO TAKE THINGS WE SAY AND USE THEM AGAIN US AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY MAKE THINGS WORST THAN THEY ARE.TYWANA YOU BUSTER AND PATRICK WILL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO THE UNIVERSTY OF KY.
I would love nothing more than for Patrick to come back for a final year!! He’s an outstanding man and athlete; quite the quintissential Wildcat. It’s been a blessing to have him be a part of this team! We hope you son loves us as much as we love him!! With his intelligence, why not continue to a master’s degree?
But, regardless, we hope he does what is best for him and the family.
We hope to see you back in 2011 Patrick!! Go Wildcats!
Tywanna, you need to write a book.
Great idea for you, Tywanna – you have such a fine spirit and great experiences for writing your memoirs. We’ll miss your online comments if Patrick leaves the university, but we know that you’ll always be a Big Blue fan!
Hey Al J,
True Kentucky fans have the right to pour mouth Calipari when he dishes one of the best UK players in Kentucky history. Many fans are starting to wonder if Calipari is just about Calipari.
Saying 5 kids are going pro is a great recruiting tool for Cal. Too bad thats all he is concerned about. Patterson deserves better. One thing for sure, Tubby Smith would have never treated a kid like that. Tubby had too much class. I wish Cal did too.
Thanks Jim adn Judi….also that book sounds like a good idea. I have so much to share with other parents and student athletes!
Gotta love RckChlk88 making comments in here. How did it feel to lose to Northern Iowa, LOL!
Thanks to Tywanna for her accurate, quick responses here. Just got back from Pigeon Forge where I spent time with my grandkids, but Tywanna was gracious enough to talk to me late last night when this all broke and even provide more info today while I was driving and unavailable. Pat will have a lot to say when he makes his decision and I can’t wait to be there to hear him and his parents. And if she writes a book, it will be a dandy because she is also a talented writer
Once again as with a lot of things with uk basketball all of this is being blown way out of proportion. I am sure it was a misunderstanding between a young man that cares alot about uk and uk that cares alot about him also.Lets give it a rest we all love pp and we are all human none of us are perfect so come on go big blue.
Does anybody think it’s classless of cal not to answer her call? I mean he could only be so fortunate to get pat back, and I and probably the rest of BBN know it’s not going to happen but you just don’t treat people, or on a better note you don’t treat the PATTERSONS that way….venting done!
Cal must surely have a good reason for not calling. Hopefully he will call soon and all this will end well for everyone
Just want to say we all love Patrick and wish him the best in whatever he decides is right for him !!! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the bball program at KY Patrick. All the fans love you ! Your one of the most outstanding young athlete’s(on and off the court) to come to KY and we sure hope for more like you! You know us fans would love to have you back but whatever you decide is best for you is what we want for you. Good luck in whatever you decide! Thanks for your story Mrs. Patterson and congrats on raising such an awesome son!
[...] to his mother, Tywanna Patterson, he hasn’t made up his mind. Thanks to Vaught’s Views for the quotes. “I found out UK released a statement saying [...]
I hope Pat considers becoming the time scorer! If he doesn’t he is the best!!!
Agree Lora and Ellen H. NO matter what he does, he’s one of the all-time favorite Cats
After reading through all of the comments, it’s pretty obvious to me that we have a TON of rival trolls posting. Positively sure of a Florida fan and a Kansas fan, (and I’m guessing a fair amount of Louisville fans as well). How did they get here?? It tells me they found this link on a message board. Very few UK fans would print such negative garbage about Coach Cal and UK.
Tywanna, I hope you consider this.
P.S. Tell Patrick we’re all pulling for him no matter what he decides!
Some stories just generate a lot of comments, and this was one. No way for sure to tell what team a particular poster might be for, but educated guesses certainly are possible as you noted MAP
Tywanna, I am not a parent, nor was I a student athlete in college, but I would stand in line to buy your book. I encourage you to write one. It would certainly provide a perspective fans don’t usually get.
Let me add I am a Patrick fan and support him and your family no matter what he decides.
Hi and thanks, that is sweet of you to say! I am definitely thinking of writing one, will keep you posted! Have a great weekend!
That book would be a best seller in Kentucky for sure
T… I get to take the picture for your book!
I think it would be a best seller in places other than Kentucky, too. I’ve been very impressed with Mrs. Patterson’s posts on this website and her overall comments. It would be great to read something from the perspective of a parent of someone who is as classy and talented as Patrick.
Eventually Cal will say he knew nothing about this, just like he know nothing about what happened at Massachusetts and at Memphis. Why did UK hire this man? what a desparate attempt to buy a national championship — All he is good for is “one and done” players because that’s his selling point. Hate to say it, but the way to win it all is through team buiding, just like, ouch, Duke did this year. Bobby Knight says Cal is the posterboy for everything that is wrong with college basketball. Hope you enjoy what you got — and, by the way, I don’t think Duke’s title will be vacated by the NCAA via the Calapari method.
hey guys i still dont know my decision on coming back or not but i jus wanna say that you all have been great in supporting me. the fans at uk are the greatest. and i say 75% of me says i wanna come back next year, but it depends on my draft stock.
thanks uk youre the best.
JW11
I think we all wish that Patrick, John Wall, Bledsoe AND Orton would come back and play another year. This year has been so much fun for everyone! And all of the UK fans LOVE these guys so much!!! But I think we realize that the four freshman are leaving, but feel that there is still hope for Patrick to stay. Not only do I love watching him play for UK because he’s so good, but also because he plays so hard and with such passion! Stay, Patrick, stay at Kentucky!!!
John Wall — if that is really you who posted today, I think it’s amazing that you are considering coming back to UK! That says so much about you, knowing how much you are worth in the NBA to even let it cross your mind to stay at Kentucky!! I know it would be taking a chance, but you would throw so many people for a loop and shock the world if you stay at UK another year!! Make those NBA coaches drool for one more year!!
I think we might have an imposter who slipped in, but at least it is still fun to think about that Leslie.