Chasity Patterson (SEC Photo)
If you look at Chasity Patterson, she does not look all that imposing. She’s only 5-5 and seems like many opponents would be able to push her around. Instead, it’s usually the Kentucky senior point guard causing havoc with opponents. She had 61 steals in 16 games after getting 25 in 19 games last year. She has 55 assists. She averages 12.9 points and even 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 82.4 percent at the foul line.
She also has a knack of making a key defensive play or hitting a shot at key times in games.
Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy loves Patterson’s “ability to be coached” and willingness to learn.
“We coach our point guards extremely hard. I had a one-on-one meeting with Chasity and I asked her, what can we do to help you, how can I help you better, and she said, ‘You’re doing a great job coach,'” Elzy said. “Now, that’s just perspective. I have probably been the toughest on her, more than anybody on the team, and she just takes it and continues to learn and grow.
“And then on the court, I mean, speed kills, right? Her ability to get a steal, lay it up, sometimes it just happens so quick. I’ll turn my head to talk to one of the coaches, and I’ll turn back around and Chasity Patterson is laying the ball up. But her ability to push into transition offense, and then she is a playmaker. She knows how to score.
“She is really taking responsibility for the point guard position. She wanted to embrace the roll and everything that it came with. She worked really hard over the summer, so I am super proud of her.”
Patterson and the Cats play again Sunday at 1 p.m when they host Missouri hoping to build on their 12-4 overall record and 5-3 mark in SEC play.
Patterson is on the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch List and leads the nation in steals. She had 10 against Wofford earlier this season, something only one other UK player had ever done.
Alabama coach Kristy Curry appreciates all the things Patterson can do to help Kentucky win and did do Tuesday against Alabama.
“She is shooting 80 percent from free throw and wants the ball in critical moments,” Curry said. “She is extremely quick, can hit a 3 and is just a good all-around good point guard who does a nice job leading her team.
“She is probably one of the best defensive players in the SEC. Her energy on the ball is outstanding.”
Patterson was the top rated point guard in the 2017 recruiting class who picked Texas but then transferred to UK. She was the SEC Sixth Player of the Year last season when she averaged 11.5 points per game.
“Chasity is steadyWe know what we’re going to get from her. Her ability to score, she can score at all three levels, she’s an energizer bunny, she can play for long periods of time, and she is going to get a steal or two every game. That is just what she does,” Elzy said.
“Her ability to locate the ball and make steals, and her speed is just all-natural killer instincts. I like what Chasity is bringing to the table, she is playing extremely confident, and we need her to continue to do that.”
