By CODY WORSHAM | Tiger Rag Editor
Will Wade promised change was on its way at LSU. The transformation of his first roster is still underway.
Veteran guard Jalyn Patterson will not return to the Tigers for his senior season, sources told Tiger Rag this weekend. Patterson confirmed the news in a statement provided to Tiger Rag on Wednesday, shortly after a university release announced the news.
Patterson will look to redshirt while finishing up his degree at LSU this year. That would open the door for him to transfer as a graduate to another program for the 2018-19 season.
“I am proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to represent and wear the LSU uniform,” Patterson said. “Although this decision was difficult, it was something that I had to do. I had to do what was best for me and my future so that I can accomplish the things I need to.”
In three seasons, the Alpharetta, Ga. native appeared in 90 games, earning 36 starts. He finishes his LSU career with averages of 5.8 points, 2.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
Patterson finished seventh in the SEC in assist to turnover ratio in his junior season, handing out a career-high 93 assists, second on the team to Skylar Mays’ 113. He saved one of his best games for last, scoring a career-high 22 points and making a number of clutch plays in the Tigers’ 92-82 win over Tennessee on March 1, helping to snap LSU’s program-record 15-game losing streak in his final home game as a Tiger.
He was a key part of LSU’s 2014-15 NCAA tournament berth as a freshman, starting the final 11 games of the season, including a 20-point performance in a win at Arkansas that helped clinch the Tigers’ place in the tournament. Patterson averaged 8.8 points in league play as a freshman.
LSU now brings back just five scholarship players from the 2016-17 team that finished 10-21 overall and 2-16 in SEC play: seniors Aaron Epps and Duop Reath, junior Brandon Sampson, and sophomores Mays and Wayde Sims. With six offseason additions – North Texas transfer Jeremy Combs, North Florida State College guard Daryl Edwards, and four-star freshmen Brandon Rachal, Galen Alexander, Mayan Kiir, and Tremont Waters – Wade now has two scholarships available for the 2017-18 season. NCAA Bylaw 15.5.1.6 allows programs to redshirt players in the year after a coaching change without that player counting against the scholarship limit.
Here's the NCAA bylaw which says LSU can redshirt Jalyn Patterson without counting against scholarship. pic.twitter.com/Lpj3sDZ3EG
— Cody Worsham (@CodyWorsham) July 12, 2017
One opening could be filled by Oregon transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams, pending an investigation into a sexual assault allegation at his junior college.
Jalyn Patterson Full Statement
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