Tyrese Patterson Prospect Report (2018)
Tennessee Prep Academy is relatively new. Most of the program’s pieces spend a single season training and playing with TPA. Senior Tyrese Patterson, beginning his third TPA year is as experienced as any player in the program’s short history.
“This is a big year for him,” said TPA President and National Boy’s Varsity High School Basketball Coach Harold Rayford Jr. “Most of my guys came in as juniors or seniors. He came in as a sophomore. He understands the prep level of basketball.
Patterson operates as a wing, but projects as a combo guard. Depending on the situation, Patterson might become a point man. It really depends though.
“He has gotten a whole lot better, playing with the prep school guys.”
His brightest moment to date came last spring against a ferocious Oak Hill Academy.
Jr. (G) 6'3 Tyrese Patterson shows up & shows out last night against Oak Hill Academy. Led all scorers with 22pts 11/14 (FG) 2rb 4s
— Tennessee Preparatory Academy (@tennprepacademy) December 3, 2016
Basketball Bloodline
Like many young basketball starlets, Tyrese Patterson is the son of a former star hooper.
“His father is Kenny Patterson (DePaul),” said Coach Rayford Jr. “He is a DePaul Hall-of-Famer.”
8. Tyrese Patterson is a rising senior at Tennessee Prep, his dad, Kenny, was a standout at DePaul University #TGSprofam pic.twitter.com/CTT4rqfeUL
— The Grind Session (@thegrindsession) August 3, 2017
Tyrese’s father, Kenny earned Parade All-American Third Team as a high school senior (1985). When he wrapped his highly-successful college career the Indiana Pacers drafted him with the first pick of the third round. His NBA career was brief, ending in 1986. Now the elder New Yorker must now root on his New York-raised son.
“He is from Harlem, New York,” said Coach Rayford Jr. “He has that NY-style of the game.”
Which college coaches are intrigued by the young Patterson?
“He has interest from a few schools in the OVC,” said Coach Rayford Jr. “Tennessee Tech really likes him. UT Chatt really likes him. They will be coming back out. He is a slender 6-foot-3 kid.
Tennessee Prep Academy plays a relentless schedule including NAIA schools, junior college squads, and other prep schools. Physicality is a must and the spindly Patterson continues to strengthen his body, which remains behind his game in maturation. How he handles the big-bodied wings will determine his basketball ceiling.
Scouts are probably thinking, “Do I take a chance or watch him develop? He is going to get an offer,” said Coach Rayford Jr. “That is the least of my concerns.”
Coach Rayford Jr. has seen Tyrese Patterson too long to doubt him.