Four-star 2021 small-forward Trey Patterson announced his commitment to Villanova University over IU Thursday night.
Patterson, a Somerset, New Jersey, native, is ranked No. 26 overall in his class and No. 1 in the state, according to ESPN. It was widely expected by recruiting experts that Patterson, who stands 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds, was headed to Villanova.
Patterson was considering 10 schools, before whittling his list down Monday to Villanova, The University of Florida and IU.
“I’ve been working toward this my whole life,” Patterson said in an interview with The Front Office Monday. "Like you said, all those early morning workouts, all those late nights working out, this is what it’s all down to.”
Last season, Patterson netted 19.8 points per game and snatched just over 10 rebounds per game, while helping guide Rutgers Preparatory School to its first Somerset County Tournament crown in more than 35 years. He was named to the All-State second team by NJ.com for his efforts.
247sports Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer wrote that Patterson “is a run-and-jump athlete more than a lateral or explosive athlete." Meyer added that Patterson "shoots the ball well to behind the arc, but has a slow release at this point."
Meyer also noted that Patterson has good body control and can finish at the rim with both hands. However, Patterson's defensive versatility and ball handling skills still need work, according to Meyer.
In the offseason, the Hoosiers suffered the losses of rising junior guard Damezi Anderson and rising senior Justin Smith, who both transferred out of the program.
IU currently has one verbal commitment in the 2021 class in 6-foot 9-inch four-star center Logan Duncomb. The Hoosiers will continue their search for talent with the recruitment of four-star power-forward Trey Kaufman and five-star small-forward Aminu Mohammed.
The Hoosiers will lose rising seniors Al Durham and Joey Brunk after next season, but the team could also see the departures of rising sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis and incoming freshman Khristian Lander to the 2021 NBA draft.
