Justin Patton (#0 | 6-11 | 215 | C | Fr.)
The centerpiece of Creighton’s highly-touted 2015 recruiting class, Omaha North center Justin Patton went from being almost a complete unknown when he verbally committed to stay home and play for the Bluejays to a Top 25 recruit nationally and five-star prospect by the time he stepped on campus. The (huge) upside is he has a guard’s game and size inside the frame of a center. He can handle the ball and has good passing and vision for any player, much less for a big man. He can also take defenders away from the rim and knock down shots to help spread the floor.
The downside right now is that Patton weighs 215 pounds, which puts him at a disadvantage against the physicality he’ll face near the basket at the college level. He’s been in the weight room, and is looking bigger since the team first started practicing for their overseas trip to Italy back in July. Still, he’s a candidate to redshirt, because Greg McDermott has two traditional big men in senior Geoff Groselle and junior Zach Hanson. Even when he goes away from traditional lineups he still has 6-foot-10 forward Toby Hegner and 6-foot-9 forward Martin Krampelj to plug in at the five when the Bluejays decide to spread the floor and play small ball.
Check out our Justin Patton photo gallery!
While a redshirt is likely, no decision has been made yet, and there are certainly days when the Omaha North product makes it seem like it would be silly to let him sit on the bench all season long. When Patton does shine, it’s usually by making plays that no one else on the team can make. Whether he’ll have to wait until next November to show those off or not, his ceiling is extremely high.
Omaha North High School (Omaha, Nebraska)
- five-star prospect and top 25 recruit
- First Team All-State and captain of the All-Metro team
- led Omaha North to a school record 23 wins as a senior
- averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocked shots per game as a senior
- averaged 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a junior
Head Coach Greg McDermott on Patton:
“He’s a work in progress. He’s certainly improving, and the improvement has been relatively consistent. The challenge for Justin is just the physicality of the college game, and getting his body ready to play day in and day out against the people he’s going to have to play against. The raw abilities are outstanding for someone his size. His skill level passing, handling the ball, shooting the ball for someone his size is really incredible.”
5-on-5 with Justin Patton
Q: What were some of the factors in why you decided to come play at Creighton?
A: “The coaching staff was great, and the playing style was something that I really liked. Also just being at home was a big factor, and when I found out who they were recruiting like Khyri Thomas and those guys — I knew most of the players already, so I thought it would be pretty cool to be around them for four years.”
Q: What has been the most challenging part of the transition from high school to college?
A: “The hardest part is getting your body ready for the next day; coming in and getting treatment, managing that type of stuff.”
Q: The team was picked ninth in the preseason poll. What did you think of that selection, and what are your expectations for this group this season?
A: “I heard that, but I didn’t really pay too much attention to it. I know we have to come out and prove a lot of people wrong. Our focus is just coming out and playing our basketball. We’ll get up in the rankings. I feel like we can go pretty far this year, and get far into the Big East Tournament, and that’s all that really matters.”
Q: When the schedule was released what was one game you circled or maybe one trip you were looking forward to making the most this year?
A: “Indiana. I have two buddies that play for them — O.G. Anunoby and Juwan Morgan. It’ll be fun.”
Q: When your time at Creighton is over what will you have hoped to accomplish in your career as a Bluejay?
A: “To be a successful person, make good connections, and just embrace the Bluejay life. I want to know everybody when I come back, and be successful in a career field.”