Keystone Recruiting
Driving The Lane
Pitt Recruit Lamar Patterson

Lancaster's Lamar Patterson is finishing his junior year at J.P. McCaskey High School. The basketball star has given a verbal commitment to play for the Pitt Panthers in the Class of 2009. The brother of former Syracuse quarterback Percy Patterson, the younger Lamar is a physical, versatile small forward that hung up his football cleats to pursue a career in basketball. At 6'5, 220 pounds, Lamar averaged 22 points per game at McCaskey last season. PSR's Anthony Jaskulski caught up with Patterson last month at the Petersen Events Center during the Pittsburgh Jam Fest.

PSR: What did you think of the Pittsburgh Jam Fest and getting a chance to play on the court that you'll play on in college?

Patterson: I thought it was real nice, and I liked getting a good feel on the court I'm going to be playing on. Pitt has a nice atmosphere and I'm looking forward to contributing.

PSR: What do you think of Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon and of the playbook you will be using at Pitt?

LP: I love coach Dixon. He's a great guy, and he shows that he cares for his guys a lot and he just knows what he's doing. In terms of X's and O's I think he is one of the best at what he does.

PSR: Is your game at the level you want it to be at yet coming into your last year before moving onto Pitt?

LP: I think I have to pick my game up if I want to play on this court in the future. I want to be able to bring a full game to the table and get as perfect as I possibly can, and I'm working on it everyday.

PSR: What do you think your best attribute to your game is?

LP: I think my passing and trying to find the open man is what I do best. You have the rest of your teammates that make you and the team that much better, and it's important to get everybody a touch and involved.

PSR: Where do you think you need to improve with your game?

LP: I want to improve everything. My dribbling, my shooting, rebounding… every category I want to get better at. There is always room for improvement in basketball.

PSR: Do you consider yourself more of a hype player, that can bring the fans into a game on one play, or more of a team player that gets everybody involved in clutch situations?

LP: I'm more a team player. I don't really care what the crowd thinks. I just want to get my teammates involved and get a win above all.

PSR. Is there pressure in your game knowing that you are a top recruit?

LP: It's a little bit of pressure, and sometimes you think about it, but mostly I just go out and play my game. When you're not thinking as much is when you play your best games I think.

PSR. What basketball player have you looked up to and most tried to emulate?

LP: Magic Johnson is my favorite player and I like to think I can resemble him in a way. He had that great jump-shot and I'm working to get mine at that kind of level.