At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight Cedric Patterson of Moravian Prep.
We've seen Patterson numerous times throughout the years, including at our Phenom 150 camp, where we stated, 'Next, we look at a player that simply knows how to run a team with a fairly balanced approach, Cedric Patterson. He's a smart, crafty, fairly well-rounded point guard prospect with toughness and quality defensive instincts. Patterson does a nice job of creating for himself and others but can also score quite effectively from all three levels. Next in his development process is working on the use of his off-hand, as it would make him a more consistent finisher around the basket. Coach Dre on Patterson: 'Cedric has a great handle! He can control the flow of the game and facilitate easy buckets for his teammates. His hesitation is very useful and he gets guys to leave their feet very easily. I was impressed with the way he attacks the hoop. Cedric has great defensive instincts as well. He is very active, deflects passes, and is always in the way to disrupt the action. I like Cedric a lot and looking forward to seeing how things work out for him.' Patterson was great at camp and will be a vital part of his team's success throughout the upcoming season.'
Since then, Patterson has found his comfort zone for a variety of different teams while making his steady production consistently felt. He's simply a smart, tough, balanced two-way floor general with the necessary vision and scoring prowess to assert himself in a variety of different ways. Patterson operates well out of the two-man game as a playmaker but can also initiate the offense and create scoring opportunities for himself with relative ease. Patterson runs a team with poise while working to outwork his assignment defensively. Although his recruitment has been somewhat sluggish, Patterson absolutely has the ability to succeed at various programs at the next level and should be pursued with more urgency by college coaches.