Charlotte PG Lu’Cye Patterson Transferring to Hometown Gophers

NCAA Basketball: Charlotte at Duke
Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Johnson and the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball program have faced a challenging offseason, with key players departing. However, Johnson is actively working to fill those gaps by recruiting talent from the transfer portal. Today, he added another player out of the portal.

Charlotte transfer point guard Lu’Cye Patterson has made it official: he’s taking his talents to Dinkytown. His commitment came on Friday, and if you’re a follower of high school basketball, you might find Patterson’s name familiar, from his time at Minnesota Prep Academy and Brooklyn Center high school.

lu'cye patterson minnesota gophers

Patterson’s journey in collegiate basketball began with his commitment to Missouri State following high school. During his time there, he played in 57 games. However, seeking new opportunities, he made the decision to transfer to Charlotte, where he has continued to develop his game over the past two seasons.

What are Minnesota Gophers getting with Charlotte transfer, Lu’Cye Patterson?

During his tenure at Missouri State, playing time was scarce for him his freshman year. However, a breakthrough came in his sophomore year when he snagged 26 starts, showcasing an average of 7.4 points per game and logging 26.3 minutes per game. Following this promising season, he made the pivotal decision to transfer to Charlotte.

In his debut season at Charlotte, he hit the ground running, securing a spot in the starting lineup for 25 games. With an average of 10.2 points per game and 28.3 minutes of playtime, he made his mark early on. Fast forward to his latest season, and his growth is evident.

Related: Gophers Grab Two Backcourt Transfer Portal Commitments

Starting all 31 games, he upped his scoring average to 14.6 points per game while logging an impressive 32 minutes per game. Not only a scorer, he also showcased his playmaking abilities, chipping in with an average of 2.2 assists per game throughout his college career.

He’s a significant addition to the backcourt, stepping in to fill the shoes of Elijah Hawkins – a tough challenge indeed. But being back home he is comfortable, and anything could happen. It’s another great acquisition for Ben Johnson and his coaching staff.

Related: Cam Christie is Not Returning to Minnesota, Gophers’ Dreadful NIL Budget Revealed

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