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SEC Tourney Report: Former Cat recruit Lucas still close to Patterson

March 13, 2008|LARRY VAUGHT

ATLANTA -- Even though he didn't come to Kentucky like Patrick Patterson did, Jai Lucas has remained friends with the UK freshman.

"We stay in touch. Every once in a while, we shoot each a text to each other," Lucas said. "I wished him well when he got injured and told him I wanted him to get better."

The two developed a bond playing high school summer basketball and even though Lucas was from Texas and Patterson from West Virginia. They thought they made a "perfect tandem" on the court and it looked like both would commit to Kentucky.

However, when Tubby Smith resigned to go to Minnesota, Lucas took a visit to Florida and eventually signed with the Gators while Patterson decided to play for new UK coach Billy Gillispie.

So was Lucas close to committing to UK before signing with Florida?

"It was true for a while. Then I took my visit to Florida, met everybody there and knew that is where I wanted to be," Lucas said Wednesday before playing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

But what if Tubby Smith had not left UK? Would he have visited other schools?

"I don't know. That is a tough question," Lucas said. "That's hard to say. Florida won the last two national championships, and it is hard to turn that down along with coach (Billy) Donovan's style of play."

Still, Lucas wouldn't say he would have been at UK if Smith had not left.

"Tough question to answer. That's all I can say," Lucas said.

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