Patterson Dismissed Over Academics

Forward Andre Patterson was dismissed from UCLA on Thursday for not making sufficient academic progress during the winter quarter.

It marks the second time Patterson, a sophomore from Washington Prep, has had academic problems. He was ineligible last fall and missed the first five games last season.

After passing summer school classes at UCLA and fall classes at Santa Monica City College, he was readmitted for the winter quarter and played in 24 games, starting 21.

Patterson led the Bruins with a rebounding average of 5.5 and led the Pacific 10 Conference with a 60.8% field-goal percentage. He averaged 7.5 points in 23.1 minutes a game.

It is possible for Patterson to be readmitted again through work at another school in the spring and summer. He would then need to win an appeal before the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences.

Patterson’s father, Andre Sr., said his son received two incompletes, which triggered the dismissal because he was on academic probation stemming from the early problems.

Patterson had been enrolled in the spring quarter but cannot continue with classes unless the incompletes are resolved.

“If he cannot get readmitted, the worst case is he’ll go to summer school and go through the appeals process again,” Andre Sr. said. “This year took a toll on him. He worked his butt off to get back on the team.”

Patterson could transfer to another Division I school, sit out a season and have two years of remaining eligibility.

Forward T.J. Cummings, another player whose academic standing was in question, is enrolled in the spring quarter and is eligible.

Patterson’s departure creates the first scholarship for Coach Ben Howland to give a player for next fall. However, he might decide to stockpile scholarships for the following season.