Patrick Patterson to decide soon

Patterson to announce May 16; Duke in hunt

Patrick Patterson, the nation's top-rated uncommitted senior and a Duke basketball recruiting target, plans to announce his college plans May 16, his high school coach said Tuesday.

Patterson, a 6-foot-8 power forward, will take time this weekend to decide between Duke, Kentucky and Florida, said Huntington High coach Lloyd McGuffin.

Rated the No. 11 prospect in the nation by scout.com, Patterson would be an important addition for Duke after 6-foot-10 Josh McRoberts left for the draft following his sophomore season.

Duke already has a highly regarded recruiting class that includes McDonald's All-Americans Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith and Taylor King. But Smith is a guard and Singler and King are wing players considered unlikely to address the void left in the post by McRoberts' departure the way Patterson could.

Patterson is one of just three uncommitted players on scout.com's top-100 list. The others are point guard Jai Lucas of Bellaire, Texas, and power forward LaRon Dendey of Hope Christian Academy in Kings Mountain.