Yesterday the University of Kentucky announced that five players were declaring for the NBA Draft. One Problem — junior Patrick Patterson apparently hasn’t made up his mind yet.
Kentucky Says He’s Gone, But Patrick Patterson Has Yet To Declare
Not according to his mom, at least:
"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.
So that is that, Patterson hasn’t made up his mind, right? Wrong. Mrs. Patterson of course tried to reach her son, his teammates and John Calipari.
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.”
Mrs. Patterson may have a point, as Kentucky has refused to take anything back from its statement saying all five were gone:
UK spokesman DeWayne Peevy said late Wednesday night that he had no comment beyond what was in UK’s release, but he said that it remained his understanding that all five players plan to enter the draft.
Insert snarky comment about John Calipari not caring about his players and his history of recruiting violations here.
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