PRAIRIE VIEW - To know who senior forward Devonte Patterson is and where he's going, first you have to understand what he comes from.

On the court, his energy, length and ability makes him one of the most recognizable and talented athletes the Prairie View A&M men's basketball program has ever seen.  Every night he plays with passion, integrity and grit … all in hopes of getting a win.
 
Off the court, however, Patterson is a humble, optimistic individual molded by his triumphs over personal adversity.

That resilience and a desire for greatness, Patterson says, are the main reasons he's managed to get where he is now: on the cusp of making more history with the Panthers' basketball program.
 
"I give credit to the man upstairs," he said. "But after my grandmother passed away, it really broke down my family. I got thrown into big business at a young age. I think that is what has molded me into who I am now because I've had to do things a young person shouldn't have to do. When I was younger, I was in an unstable environment and I had to emerge from that to get to where I am now. But I wouldn't change anything because that's why I am who I am. The only thing I need to do is look forward."

The 2019-2020 campaign is one that began with huge expectations for the Bridgeport, Texas native. Patterson was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Preseason Player of the Year after being awarded All-SWAC honors in 2019.
 
Statistically, he's lived up to them. Patterson is currently third in scoring (15.9 ppg), and fourth in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (.475) across the SWAC.  He has also been awarded SWAC Co-Player of the Week honors. At times, he's been utterly dominant on the court, and that's helped lead the Panthers to countless victories.

To put it mildly, Patterson is a handful and then some on the court. But PVAMU Head Coach Byron Smith has even more praise for the multi-faceted Patterson, noting that he sees even bigger things in the senior's future.

"He's probably one of the most talented guys that I've coached here, and I think he's got a legitimate chance to play at the professional level when he leaves Prairie View," Smith said. "He's our go-to guy and our best all-around player, I believe. At least that's what our counterparts around the conference believe. He joined us a little late this year, but you can see that he can be dominant at any point in time. He's a match-up nightmare and a very fiery young man."

Smith went on to add that one of Patterson's best qualities is that his fervor for the game demands a similar zeal… and that doesn't just go for the players.

"He plays with a lot of emotion, as everyone has a chance to see, but he's super respectful. He's a fun guy to coach and he challenges me sometimes," Smith noted. "It's not in a disrespectful way, but he makes me bring it every day. I have to be at my best to make sure that he's at his best so we really help each other. After he leads us to a championship, I look forward to following him once he's done here at Prairie View."

Make no mistake about it, Patterson is motivated to be one of the best to ever wear the purple and gold. For some, that's typically measured in personal accolades. While Patterson is a leading candidate for conference player of the year, he's about more than achievement.

For him, what matters most is what he's gained off the court: a superior work ethic, appreciation for those who have battled in the trenches with him and understanding the process of excellence.
 
"I'm going to miss the bonds we've built," he said. "I'll miss the relationships with the teachers, community, coaching staff and players. Being here taught me how to build a relationship and never burn bridges. I'm taking a lot away from the program, mainly the importance of consistency and doing the right thing when no one is looking in all aspects of your life, along with ownership and leadership."
 
With these things in mind, Patterson continues to look forward to what's ahead. In an ideal world, that means helping the Panthers earn back-to-back conference tournament titles and ultimately taking his talents up to the professional level.  That's where the work ethic will come in. Patterson says he wants his effort to mirror the late Kobe Bryant, something he wishes he would've caught onto as a younger player.
 
"To a young me, I would say be a sponge," he said. "I'm keeping the Mamba mentality. He used to get up at dawn, if not before, and do what he had to do. If I could do it over, I'd follow in his shoes. I'd get up in the morning, go work out, go to class, have practice, and attack the cycle over and over again. I'd take everything seriously on and off the court."
 
With Patterson already a champion and one of the best players of his time in the SWAC, you may wonder what's next for him. Upon graduation, he will be leaving behind a sea of devoted fans, school mates and supporters as he moves on to his new endeavors. But what's next?

Well, if he has his way … the next item on the agenda is creating a legacy for future Panthers to follow.
 
"I want to leave behind something like Kobe did. He laid the blueprint, gave instructions and he left books behind," Patterson said. "I want people to pick up where I left off."

Rest assured, he'll be a tough act to follow.