By LARRY VAUGHT

The prevailing logic is that playing a year under John Calipari and having a chance to showcase more of his skills will help Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson move higher in next year’s NBA draft and more than justify his decision to return to UK for his junior season.

Patterson said he followed his heart and came back to Kentucky rather than going to the NBA in hopes of graduating, contending for a national championship and improving his draft status.

However, one NBA scout says that while graduating and wanting to contend for a national championship are worthy goals, he’s not convinced Patterson really can improve his draft status that much in one year under Calipari.

“He was going to be a top 20 pick if he stayed in the draft this year. It was just a matter of exactly where he fell,” said the scout who asked not to be identified because of a possible conflict if his team eventually wants to draft Patterson. “He could have got a lot of money by staying in the draft. I actually thought he would stay in and get the big bucks.

“But he made the decision he wanted, and that’s fine. But I just don’t know if that will make a big difference in where he goes next year in the draft.”

Why not? Can’t Patterson show NBA scouts that he’s a more versatile player than he was allowed to exhibit playing for Billy Gillispie the last two years?

“I think Pat is who he is and he will get better and better as his NBA career goes on,” the scout said. “If you work, you get better. And we all know Pat will work.

“But he’s a 6-8 guy who thrives inside. Is he going to become a 6-8 wing player who can pull up and hit a 3-pointer and handle the ball on the fast break in a year? I don’t think so. He is who he is and what he is is a damn good player.

“I think he’ll be in the top 20 in the draft again next year. He can still sign for $4 million and if he plays his cards right, he’ll have a great career because he’s a hard worker and great kid. But I just don’t see him becoming a top five or top 10 pick next year just because he decided to play a year for John Calipari.”

Patterson’s mother disagrees

One person – other than Calipari – who strongly disagree is Patterson’s mother, Tywanna.

“He is in the dark and knows nothing about my son. Why wouldn’t he want to be identified? Because he is wrong in his assumption, I believe. Tell him that Mrs. Patterson says he needs to be another line of work,” she said.

Obviously, she’s a little biased. So are most UK fans who not only were thrilled that Patterson came back, but also feel like she does that he can improve his draft status with the freedom Calipari will give him on the court that Gillispie did not the last two years.

Remember Patterson did average 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a freshman and 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season. He’s also shot over 57 percent from the field both seasons because he’s primarily played inside. Patterson has shown he’s one of the Southeastern Conference’s premier players and if he shows he can score outside, handle the ball and run the floor – all things Calipari says he can do – it’s hard to believe that his draft status won’t improve.

Plus, his mother has another valid points.

“At least Patrick will have his college degree and that says a lot with kids not returning to college to get their degree and then going broke in five years with poor financial decisions and the lack of an education,” she said.

True. True. True.

Patterson will be fine. If he’s no more than a top 20 pick, so what? There’s nothing wrong with that. However, based on Calipari’s track record and Patterson’s work ethic, put me in Tywanna Patterson’s corner on this one versus the NBA scout.