David Patten Down To Six Schools

David Patten, a skilled 6-8, 205 pound small/combination forward from El Dorado H.S. in Placentia, Calif., has narrowed his focus to six colleges this fall.

Patten told the Insiders Report that he is down to Colorado, Pepperdine, Tulane, Utah, UC-Santa Barbara and St. Mary's.

Patten has enjoyed in-home visits thus far with Colorado (Sept. 9), Pepperdine (Sept. 10), UCSB (Sept. 16), Utah (Sept. 17) and Tulane (Sept. 19). He also plans to have St. Mary's in his home sometime in the near future.

However, from a historic standpoint, one school could be the team to beat.

"I was born in Salt Lake City and I've always loved Utah," Patten admitted. "I like Coach Majerus' teaching abilities. They've always pretty much been my leader, but when they got three real early commitments from these other guys, I was worried that they might not be recruiting me anymore. But they are."

Utah had locked down three Southern California products by early August, securing commitments from 6-5 wing Richard Chaney, 6-1 point guard Tim Drisdom and 6-7 small forward Bryant Markson.

Patten will take his first official visit this weekend to Colorado, from Sept. 21-23. He has also pledged visits to Pepperdine and Utah, although no dates have been set up at this time.

Patten said he plans to go on a Mormon Mission during his collegiate experience, and the big question that looms now is when.

"I am sort of a year young for my grade, Patten explained. "And I can't go on a Mission until I am 19 years old, and Utah has already gotten commitments from their top three targets. So I need to see if I could get out early (go on a mission)."

Patten said he could gray-shirt at Utah or another college next year. Gray-shirting means that a student-athlete enrolls as a regular student (not on athletic scholarship) on a part-time basis so his NCAA clock does not start ticking.