PATTERSON NAMED GATORADE NEW MEXICO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (March 15, 2019) — In its 34th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced David Patterson of Rio Rancho High School as its 2018-19 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Patterson is the second Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Rio Rancho High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Patterson as New Mexico’s best high school boys basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Patterson joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Karl-Anthony Towns (2012-13 & 2013-14, St. Joseph High School, N.J.), Dwight Howard (2003-04, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln High School, Texas), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood High School, Calif.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington High School, Colo.) and Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, Calif.).
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior guard had led the Rams to a 20-8 record and the Class 5A quarterfinals at the time of his selection. Patterson averaged 23.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals through 28 games. He is an All-District and an All-Metro honoree.
Patterson has volunteered locally on behalf of a retirement center. “Patterson is a prolific scorer,” said Jim Murphy, head coach at Hope Christian High. “He can also handle the ball, he passes well and he’s very athletic. He’s been a leader for that team and a big part of their success.”
Patterson has maintained a 3.37 GPA in the classroom. He will attend the Air Force Academy this fall, where he will play basketball.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Patterson joins Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Players of the Year Anthony Chavez (2017-18, Valley High School), Brenden Boatwright (2016-17, Carlsbad High School), Clay Patterson (2015-16, Rio Rancho High School), and Ryan Jones (2014-15, Sue Cleveland High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.
As a part of Gatorade’s cause marketing platform “Play it Forward,” Patterson also has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national youth sports organization of his choosing. He is also eligible to submit an essay to win one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants for the organization of choice, which will be announced throughout the year.
Release courtesy Gatorade/Kisa Mugwanya
