To narrow that list down as Wallace suggested, the Grizzlies brought in a group of six guards and forwards today. The group was highlighted by Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson and included Devin Ebanks out of West Virginia, Terrico White from Mississippi, Jermaine Beal from Vanderbilt, Darington Hobson from New Mexico and Marqus Blakely from Vermont.
“Today what we did was we tried to bring in different positions so that we created different situations for players,” said Tony Barone, Sr., who has run each of the draft workouts for the Grizzlies. “For example Patrick Patterson, we wanted to see him go out on the perimeter and guard people. We wanted to see him take advantage of size mismatches.”
Patterson was able to do just that today, impressing the Grizzlies basketball decision makers and the crowd with his athleticism away from the basket, along with a maturity well beyond his years and a shooting touch from NBA three-point range that has led to many executives around the league to believe he can be a consistent threat from deep.
The former Kentucky Wildcat had additional motivation at today’s workout, as his college coach, John Calipari attended today’s workout and sat alongside Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins, Wallace and other members of the front office.
“I had no idea he was coming,” said Patterson. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. It put a smile on my face to see him, and I know it put a smile on his too to see me.”
Patterson was also happy to see Grizzlies star guard O.J. Mayo, a fellow native of Huntington, West Virginia, in attendance as well.
View photos from workouts.
“I originally met him playing YMCA basketball growing up,” said Patterson of Mayo. “We have talked about the process. He told me that he’d love to have me play here, and I’ve told him that I’d love to play here alongside him.”