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Wildcats’ KJ Patrick caps career to remember

Posted 2/5/19

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Tonight Kelvin (KJ) Patrick will play his final basketball game in a Willow Canyon jersey.

And his career will not end without a good deal of reflection on …

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Wildcats’ KJ Patrick caps career to remember

Posted

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Tonight Kelvin (KJ) Patrick will play his final basketball game in a Willow Canyon jersey.

And his career will not end without a good deal of reflection on this campus in western Surprise. While it ends a bit earlier than anyone in the program would have liked, Patrick leaves as the symbol of hope for a new era of Wildcats basketball.

“We try to just give the program to the kids. I don’t think anyone has taken that to heart more than Kelvin,” Willow Canyon coach Joseph Colletti said.

Colletti arrived midway through Patrick’s career and his emphasis on process over results, pressure defense and fast-break offense and life beyond basketball.

Patrick started on varsity as a sophomore, averaging 10.4 points for an 8-18 team.

“It was not really focused on the development of players. It was mostly about wins,” Patrick said. “Now the program is more focused on development and more of a family.”

The new Wildcats basketball culture may have been an easier change off the court than on.

There was a period of adjustment to the faster pace, increased intensity and variety.

“During my sophomore year we played mostly man-to-man defense and a basic offense. Coach Colletti brought a lot more diversity to our play style to Willow and got us playing faster,” Patrick said.

Patrick quickly became the centerpiece of the new-look Wildcats in 2017-18. He led the 13-13 team in points (19.4) and assists (6.5).

More than that, he acted like a leader through the changeover and quickly found some common ground with a coach that had only see him play twice previously.

“I was really impressed from day one with how he carries himself. His family has been great and we’ve had a lot of conversations about basketball that have been high level,” Colletti said.

Willow Canyon’s other three starters in double digits graduated in the spring and by then, Patrick had committed himself to doing whatever he could to improve and take the reins of the team.

He was willing to work overtime. Colletti said Patrick improved as a playmaker and defender and credited the work of Kenny Mullins and the Factory Bball AAU program for his offseason growth.

“From the day our season ended last year, I think there are few people I’ve spent more time with than KJ. He wanted to get in the gym at 6 a.m. most mornings,” Colletti said.

He also committed to work with the younger varsity players. While Patrick did not begin on the varsity, he credited then-senior Kyle Goggans for helping him.

This year Patrick served as a mentor for freshman varsity player Pike Tancil.

“It reminds me of my freshman year,” Patrick said.

Patrick entered Tuesday’s senior night against Buckeye Verrado averaging 20.8 points per game, along with five rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals.

He passed the career 1,000-point mark during his most cherished win, a winter break tournament victory over Valley Vista.

And he served as a standard bearer for younger players, more by example but increasingly though his words.

“Slowly but steadily he bought into being a more vocal leader,” Colletti said. “This year we relied on him to pass the torch.”

Barring a miraculous series events this week, Patrick’s will finish his Willow Canyon career without a postseason appearance. The drought extends quite a bit further, with the Wildcats last playoff game dating back to 2011.

Patrick’s career will go on. He’s received interest from several NAIA and junior college teams and wants to study architectural design.

As he looks back on his high school career, he knows the successes he’s seen in Surprise will serve him well going forward.

“It’s been tough. We’ve been playing in a lot of close games. But we’ve left a lot on the floor these last two years,” Patrick said. “My leadership abilities have grown and I’ve become a better man and better basketball player through this program.”

KJ Patrick Willow Canyon senior Kelvin Patrick drives to the basket against Ironwood on Dec. 12, 2018 at Ironwood High School in Glendale. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]