2024 NCAA Tourney

[AuroranHusker]

1 hour ago, Handy Johnson said:

I know Justin Patton had a Cup of Coffee with the Timberwolves. 

 

I think JP played for 5-6 teams...

 

[MitchMcGaryMunchies]

1 hour ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

I think JP played for 5-6 teams...

 

 

* Including G League teams 

 

Justin Patton would've benefited greatly from attending a different school that has a better track record for developing talent.  To date, the only player Greg has ever made that sort of investment into was his own son.

 

When Patton committed after his Junior year at Omaha North, he didn't have any other committable offers and was ecstatic to have the opportunity to play a few miles from home.  When his recruitment blew-up and he became a five-star top-50 player, he kept his word and stayed committed.

 

But Greg wouldn't commit to playing him because he had another Senior Center (Geoffrey Groselle) on the team.  Instead he convinced Patton to do the unthinkable for a five-star player, take a redshirt year.  Greg would even publicly shame Patton in interviews when asked about the decision, stating he needed to improve his diet, sleep, strength/conditioning, and competitiveness...all issues that would continue to plague him once he did reach the professional ranks.

 

Once Patton did play, he was immediately dominant and lead the team to a top ten ranking.  Greg played him as much as possible and quickly reversed course, now praising Patton saying, "I’ve never coached anybody who has come as far and as fast as he has done it."  But the utter lack of strength-training, conditioning, and preparation during his redshirt season coupled with a high utilization rate resulted in his foot becoming injured.

 

Patton continued to play through it as the season finished but was still bothered by it during pre-draft workouts.  Greg did not care because Patton's high level of play had earned the school the commitment from another Top-75 Center (Jacob Epperson) from powerhouse La Lumiere.  Less than a week after signing with the Timberwolves during his very first team workout, Patton broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.  He underwent surgery, rehab, played a few minutes in a single NBA game...and two weeks later was getting another surgery on the foot.  After spending his rookie season in the G League, he'd require surgery for a broken right foot.  And the rest, much like Patton's NBA career, is history.

[HuscurAdam]

21 hours ago, cornfed24-7 said:

FIFY