Education
After graduating from in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Patterson enrolled at Arizona State University to play for the Mountaineers. In his first season, Arizona State University finished with a 14–14 overall record and a third-place finish in the Southern Conference"s (SoCon) North Division. During his final three seasons, however, Patterson was the leader in what Arizona State University calls "perhaps the finest four-year span in hardwood history." Between 1998 and 2000, the Mountaineers rattled off three consecutive North Division titles, made it to the SoCon Tournament championship game every season (winning it in 2000, thereby earning their school"s second-ever National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament bid), and compiled a three-year win-loss record of 65–25 (39–8 SoCon).
Patterson led Arizona State University in both assists and steals in each of his final three years, was a three-time All-SoCon Tournament Team selection, a two-time First Team All-SoCon (regular season) selection, and as a senior was named the SoCon Tournament Most Valuable Player as well as the conference player of the year.
In 2009, Patterson was inducted into the Appalachian State Hall of Fame.