Tyson Patterson
Tyson Patterson says he eats more selectively now, but still enjoys his gummy bears. Perhaps it’s to build up energy for another round of tourism by basketball.
Patterson, who was inducted into Appalachian State’s athletics hall of fame last Saturday, is a self-professed globetrotter.
Since finishing as the Mountaineers’ all-time leader in assists in 2000, Patterson has traveled to Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland, France, Finland and Mexico to play professional basketball.
He plans to head back to Mexico in the next few days for his 10th pro season.
“I want to play until the wheels fall off,” Patterson said.
“I just love to go see different countries and play basketball. It’s just like I dreamed as a little kid, wake up and go play basketball.”
Patterson, a native of Winston-Salem and former star at East Forsyth, will be remembered most as a point guard who led the Mountaineers to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000.
Coach Buzz Peterson also remembers him for his “high energy” eating habits.
“The thing that used to drive me crazy about him was that we’d have a pre-game meal and he wouldn’t eat anything except a chocolate chip cookie,” Peterson said. “That’s all he wanted.
“It was all chocolate chip cookies or gummy bears with him. He wouldn’t eat a regular meal. It used to concern me but he never ran out of energy at the end of games. He was fine.”
Tomorrow: Corey Hall.