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This is a sample of what you will find in the Blue Devil Nation Premium Newsletter. With Patterson's pending decision, I decided to give the entire Blue Devil Nation a peek at today's latest update. You will find out much more by joining the newsletter. Keep in mind that there have been updates on Patterson, Monroe and many others which awaits you. You can catch up quickly with our archived offerings, so if you want extended coverage, give the BDN Newsletter a try!
Weekend tournaments - Duke evaluated several players with Collins in Texas for the Next Level Ballers, while Coach K and Wojo went to the Las Vegas Spring Showcase. They watched as Drew Gordon had what many considered and average performance. Add Daniel Orton to the list of players who will be analyzed. I will keep an eye on Daniel and many other kids as the summer rolls in. Coach K and Wojo likely took a look at Elliot Williams and Reeves Nelson too. There is no way of picking their brain on what they thought, but my feeling is that every player I have mentioned in the past week is still being evaluated, despite some having a sub par game here and there. This was the last weekend that the coaches could attend events for awhile, which means we are entering what is termed as a dead period. Leslie McDonald (2009) bounced back from one miserable game with a 21 point effort, despite his teams loss. The athletic wing is firmly embedded on the list of prospects, IMO. I will have further reports up soon, recapping how Greg Monroe finished out the weekend.
Patrick Patterson - What can I say that I haven't already? If you peruse other sites, you will see many smoke and mirror tactics using quotes from the past or those of others to make you think they have obtained breaking news. Blue Devil Nation Premium members know that I have stayed on top of this situation and well ahead of the curve, providing trust worthy information while remaining objective. Quite simply, I report the facts and do not lead nor have an agenda when questioning prospects. But that doesn't mean I can't put my Blue Devil glasses on when I share what I have gathered or specualte a bit on the day of the visit. Still, make your own judgment as I share some thoughts.
The Patterson's are excited about tonight's pending visit ... they have been. Coach K, Johnny Dawkins and Chris Collins will be in-home this evening, having rescheduled the visit due to unforeseen situations.
This was the first picture I took of Duke prospect Patrick Patterson during the NBA Top 100 Camp that was held in Richmond, Virginia. I have followed him intently since that time having seen him play in 17 games in person. Patterson will soon be making one of the most important life decisions to date. The Duke staff is in-home with his family tonight. If you wonder how passionate Duke fans are, check out the on going thread at the Duke Basketball Report on Patterson. It is at 30,000 hits and climbing!
Despite the fact that Duke is Duke, there is plenty left to tell. I feel they will have an outstanding presentation which could very well surprise the Patterson's, who might think they have seen it all.
I certainly don't expect Patrick to make a decision this evening, but I do expect one in the next week or so. I am certain the Patterson's will have a clear idea of what they want to do in the days to come.
A quick trip around message boards show that some think they have been seeking media attention. The truth is often found somewhere in the middle, yet when the dust clears, all that they really want is what's best for their son.
Yes, they have enjoyed the process, but had they not, Patrick could have made an uninformed pick without knowing the changes that have occurred and those that may still come.
While many fans from all schools have become impatient with the process, the Patterson's have maintained all along that the decision would go to until, well, right now or mid April. What some fans don't seem to get is that they have likely been evasive in giving the real picture to the media of late, because they have been straight from the start, yet the questions ... the same questions continue to be asked and the ones asking them spin them to their benefit for the sake of a few extra hits or to appease the fanbase they write for.
Some sites have been so arrogant, that they have lived the recruitment in their minds eye and not in reality. Unless they are a fly on the wall in the Patterson's household, they have no idea of what is going on, yet many maintain that Florida is the clear favorite.
This isn't limited to just fan media, but national media too. Everywhere you turn there is a new take on Patrick because he decided he wanted his eggs scrambled instead of over easy.
I have been guilty of assessing the situation like a volatile stock, but you know what? I am reading too many of the crazy spins, so much so that I get dizzy too.
Having covered this recruiting battle extensively since the NBA Top 100 Camp in Richmond, here are today's thoughts.
While I think the Gators are a strong player in this, I have to wonder if the location may prove to be farther than they want to go as a family. As I look at the teams left, there is one thing that stands out to me. Virginia, Wake Forest, Kentucky and Duke are all close to home. If I take that further, I'd be spinning, but admittedly, this is hard for me to ignore.
Patterson slams one down for Huntington High. Patrick is physically mature and loves getting down and dirty in the post.
Then there is the situation with Coach Donovan and his contract. While I am sure the Patterson's have asked the key questions, there has yet to be a public announcement of anything like an extension. Then there is the Heat factor. It is no secret that the Miami franchise has wooed Donovan and now they have been swept by the Bulls, which makes it more interesting. How long will Donovan sign for and will there be a buyout clause? Add this to the growing list of questions.
Kentucky is just down the road, but the changes in staff and the way the school handled the situation might come into play. While the Patterson's have lauded Coach G as many are calling him for his straight forward approach. It remains to be seen how this will balance out in the increasingly large pool of information they have gathered during the process.
In the Wildcats favor is the fact that the Patterson's familiar with them. In fact, many in Huntington, West Virginia root for them and they can certainly lay claim to being a basketball school. Still, if this is the choice, Patrick would be going to a school which is retooling under the immense pressure of fat Cats and some, and I did say some, overzealous fans.
If this becomes his destination of choice, it would be hard to think they weren't the favorite all along and that his heart or that of the family may want to remain in Huntington.
Then there is UVA and Wake who most consider an afterthought. While some may think that Patrick is keeping them in out of respect for recruiting him early, who is to say for sure? Still, these teams have more holes to fill in the big picture to compete at the highest level than do the other teams on his list, but maybe, just maybe that is not important for Patrick.
If you have been around the BDN since last July, you know that by looking back at the fist interviews I had with Patrick, they are eerily similar to the ones today, save the coaching changes. In fact, it was their fear of the changes that prolonged this process and that may prove to be advantageous for Duke.
Duke has stayed the course and has never wavered. There consistent approach and continued desire to get to know the family is straight forward.
Coach K has made no secret that Patterson is their choice to man a position that has been so successful at Duke. Despite being pulled by his responsibilities with Team USA, he has made certain that Patrick knows his sincerity by showing up at many events to watch his progress. What some of our own fans need to see is that Coach K wants to coach and mentor Patrick and that he sees his potential and wants him to reach it.
In the end, as I have maintained all along, Duke will be tough to ignore. They offer the full package and there is no way that the staff will fracture itself to the point where you will wonder about it's future continuity.
Regardless of how clear it may seem to myself and some Duke fans, this is Patrick's decision. As you read in my latest interview a couple of days ago, the family has helped him to gather all the information possible, yet in the end they have made it clear that this is their sons choice.
That said, Patrick must balance out thoughts of happiness along with his gut of where he will grow the most as a player. He will likely look long and hard at the big picture as well as the short term one in hopes of having the confidence to jump aboard a ship.
He will certainly look at where those Florida, Kentucky, Wake, UVA and Duke ships are sailing and try to envision himself down the road.
Duke fans think that the ideal situation is in Durham, North Carolina. They think Coach K has polished many players with similar skill sets, so that they might flourish in the NBA. They think Patterson would be happy playing every single game on nationwide TV, on a team that is always the center of media attention. They think that Patterson would want to play for the man selected to coach Team USA and the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
As a Duke fan, I could add to that list, but no matter how attractive the situation might seem, the bottom line is that the Patterson's have to see it that way too and it is admittedly harder being a fan to see what they might think are perceived pitfalls.
Tonight's visit will certainly have a lot of impact. Until then, a little more patience is required. Maybe, just maybe, Blue Devil fans will all be welcoming him to the Duke family in short time.
Regardless of his choice, Duke basketball is Duke basketball and the future is bright and with a little luck, Patrick Patterson may just want to be in that light.
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Duke 12 UVA 9
