Viewing him as a pure, albeit somewhat undersized, power forward ahead of the 2009 NBA Draft, I saw Patrick Patterson as a good value pick in the middle of the first round. Here we are a year later, Patterson has shown enough ability away from the basket to show he can be a combo forward in a weaker draft, yet he still looks like a pick in the 10-15 range.
Nevertheless, I don't think that is necessarily any type of indictment on his future.
When Patterson arrived in Lexington, he was primarily relied upon in the low post where he would use his combination of size and skill against college competition. He showed an occasional mid-range jumper that was reminiscent of the one we saw for years by Karl Malone, but he was primarily a back to the bucket player. Patterson did always seem like a difficult cover for bigs because he would play physically, yet also had finesse skills.
With DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton giving Kentucky some legitimate size, Patterson's role in the offense changed considerably, but he still had an outstanding offensive season.
Perhaps as important as allowing Patterson to play a little on the perimeter because of those two freshmen bigs, the opportunity to play with John Wall allowed Patterson to demonstrate that he can also be an above the rim finisher.
When it comes to successful undersized power forwards, Elton Brand of course comes to mind, but his 7'5" wingspan puts him into a different class altogether. A more accurate comparison for Patterson would be Carl Landry, who are comparable in terms of height, wingspan and strength, though the latter is more athletic.
With few exceptions, Patterson will be able to score in the NBA regardless of who guards him in the post. He has a physical build and enjoys being physical. Patterson seals his man well and uses his toughness to initiate strong position. Whether it is in the paint or on the perimeter, Patterson moves extremely well without the ball.
When he catches the ball, Patterson has the full array of moves you want from a post player, predicated on strong footwork and a soft touch at the bucket. His up and under is strong and easy for defenders to want to bait on, but his baby hook is more impressive to me. Patterson gets good lift and rise, functionally using the length he has to maximum effect.
In terms of offensive intangibles, Patterson has excellent hands and also possesses a gifted court sense.
Patterson hit a more than respectable percentage of his 3-point attempts, but he doesn't have the same type of effectiveness as a jump shooter as he does in the post. His shot isn't pure, but it is a little reminiscent of those mid-range jumpers Karl Malone liked to take.
The combo forward aspect of his game that is most immediately translatable is in transition. He runs the floor really well and is a good decision-maker in those situations.
Patterson should also rebound well on the next level, particularly on the offensive end where he attacks the ball. His rebounding numbers predictably decreased as a junior, but Cousins and Orton are to be blamed for that.
On the defensive end, Patterson is very sound and is capable of guarding multiple positions. He is better at guarding the post, but he showcased well defending perimeter ISOs where he had ample lateral quickness to stay in front of his man. Patterson frequently had to guard players shorter than him as a junior and did well in those situations.
He also has a pair of some of the most effectively active arms you will see from a college player.
As a shotblocker, Patterson isn't the type to shift a game, but he'll get his fair share and he is a difficult player to shoot over the top of.
In terms of character, you couldn't ask for more than Patterson. If you had to bet your life on one player outside of the top-four to have an extremely productive 10-year NBA career, I would take Patterson.
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