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Lucas, Patterson Friendly Rivals

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By JENNA MARINA, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 19, 2008

Updated: 01/19/2008 12:15 am

GAINESVILLE - When the Gators and the Wildcats take the court for another storied showdown tonight, University of Florida point guard Jai Lucas and Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson instantly will be transformed into heated rivals.

The moment the freshmen step off the court, however, they will revert to the friends they were - before they decided their destinies would not be intertwined after all.

They knew each other from summer camps and AAU tournaments, but it wasn't until the Nike Skills Academy and the NBA Camp in 2006 that they started to spend more time together.

Lucas' father, John, the former NBA player and coach, said he instantly viewed the pair as a mini version of Moses Malone and himself.

At first, Patterson spoke little, but Jai Lucas gradually broke him down.

"I just kept talking to him, and then on the court, between a guard and a big man, that's one of the best relationships there is," Lucas said. "Once you get that bond, it's hard to keep you away off the court."

As their relationship grew, the two began discussing the possibility of playing together during the next phase of their careers.

When Lucas' father met Patterson's parents, Buster and Tywanna, he told them their sons might want to consider playing with each other full-time.

"I said they need to try to look to going to school together, because I think they can win a national championship," he said. "The only two schools they both had on their lists were Kentucky and Florida."

It didn't take long for the drama to start, especially when both held out until mid-May to declare where they intended to play. Jai Lucas remembers all the hype - whoever committed first, the other would surely follow.

"I found that funny, 'cause I didn't think that was going to happen," Lucas said.

Lucas made his decision first, and after telling his parents, his high school coach and Florida coach Billy Donovan that he would be a Gator, the Texas native sent a text message to his friend to share the news.

"I always told him that I would let him know where I was going before I did it," Lucas said. "He said congratulations, and he said he still didn't know what he was going to do."

The duo's relationship made Patterson's pending decision that much harder. Patterson was unavailable for comment, but he has spoken publicly about his relationship with Lucas and his decision to play at Kentucky.

"He started sending me text messages every day about making me a Gator and telling me what made him go to Florida and things like that," Patterson told reporters after his announcement. "It was hard because I really wanted to play with Jai. He was like my little brother."

The decision ultimately came down to roughly 768 miles. Patterson, of Huntington, W.Va., couldn't bear the thought of forcing his family to get on a plane every time they wanted to see him suit up in Gainesville.

"I went back and forth every single day, every minute until I finally picked UK," Patterson said. "I know Coach Donovan said he'd do everything he could for my family, moving them out there and finding a house in Jacksonville, but I just didn't want to do that to my family."

So after months of sidestepping reporters' constant questions, the recruiting saga was finally over - sort of.

The headlines pitted the programs against each other: "Gators beat Kentucky for prized recruit" was followed by "Blue-chip recruit spurns UF for Kentucky."

"They have a nice rivalry between them, and they have a nice friendship between them," Lucas' father said. "A lot of people thought they were going to sign at the same time. We always thought, if it works out, it's great, but I think that it's been a blessing for both of them."

Patterson immediately had an impact at Kentucky, becoming the Wildcats' leading scorer (16.7) and rebounder (8.0).

Lucas has become an integral part of Florida's offense, as well, after sliding into the starting point guard position vacated by Taurean Green.

Though the two chat from time to time now - how's the season, what's school like? - Lucas said he never dwells on what could have been.

"It's just basketball," Lucas said. "You have to go to work with what you have. I love Florida. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

While the pair experienced success as teammates during camps, tonight's matchup won't be the first time the two have squared off.

Lucas got the best of Patterson in the Jordan Brand All-American Classic, but Patterson and his AAU team fired back with a win over Lucas in Nike's Peach Jam.

"I think the slate's clean until tonight," Lucas' father said Friday morning. "It will all start over for them tonight."

Lucas said there won't be any wagers on tonight's game, but both have acknowledged that it's more than just a game to them.

"I want to beat Florida both times," Patterson said at Big Blue Madness on Oct. 12. "Just annihilate and crush them."

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