High School Look Back: Trequon Patterson (Warren East)
Although his high school career has come to an end, Warren East High School’s Trequon Patterson can reminisce on an exceptional run throughout his four years of prep basketball. As many players do, they are thrown with many ups and downs, but, like Patterson, they battle through those times and find ways to be successful. Patterson not only grew as a player, but he also grew as a person, which is the best part.
“I enjoyed my final high school season a lot; it was the most fun I’ve had in all four years,” Patterson said. “Making this decision to come and play for (Coach Brandon) Combs, I grew so much as a person and player that helped me look at life and situations on the court differently. I see the game better and I understand that in life adversity is just an obstacle that no matter what through all the ups and downs stay focused and continue to work and achieve success no matter who is with you.
“As a player, I learned the game inside and out, when to take over a game and how to deal with coaches and teammates, as well. I had a lot of success in high school basketball. I missed the first four games of the season and in just my second varsity game ever I scored 41 points and after Christmas I averaged 27 points (per game) and was eigth in scoring in the state, but made sacrifices to assist and get my teammates into the action more and allowed my points to decrease at 22.2 points per game for my assist to go up. I had over 500 points in 22 games. I had so much success with my game at the high school level.”
Patterson, who averaged 21.1 points per game and helped the Raiders get off to an 10-3 start in 2016-17, says he feels he had a great senior season.
“We had success as a team in the season,” Patterson stated. “When I first came back we were 9-1, but after Christmas we started dropping because we as a team started going away from what was working.”
After graduation, the athlete says he wants to continue to play the game he loves.
“My next plan in life is to get a Division I scholarship and play at the next level – whether it’s the JUCO route or whatever – I will get to the next level and compete,” Patterson noted. “I have this feeling that I can be the greatest player ever and all I need is one opportunity to prove it. I’m looking to go to the NBA. That’s my ‘Plan A’ in life – there is no ‘Plan B’ for me because having alternative options sets your highest goal/purpose in life up for failure. I’m working on my commitment to play college basketball at the next level.”
His time as a high school hoops player may have come to an end sooner than he wanted it to, but Patterson has a message for the athletes still playing at the prep level:
“My message to all high school players around the world is to never allow anyone to take the fun out of the game for you,” he added. “If you feel a change is needed, go with your intuitive feeling and make that change. Don’t allow the mind of others to influence you and always be internally motivated. You can be whatever you wanna be whoever you wanna be but it starts with YOU!”