Dink Pate, the 20-year-old budding G-League star, might be in line for a league change. Instead of jumping into the NBA like many G-League hopefuls, the young basketball player is seemingly lining up to join college basketball.
According to a Monday report by On3, Kentucky coach Mark Pope visited to watch Pate play with the Westchester Knicks. It was the second time this season he has taken a look at Pate, according to the report. Before the most recent visit, Pope had visited to see him on March 4.
The guard told KSR+ via On3 that Dink is also interested into entering college basketball and was open to joining Kentucky.
“I’m going to college, but I’m not set in stone on any school,” Pate said. “If UK likes me, that’s where I want to go. I’d like to represent. … If they play pro-style basketball, I’m going to fit in any type of system. I’m going to work hard for whatever.
“I haven’t been paying attention, though, because we have our own season going on over here. I know my journey and what I’ve got going on after the season.”
Of course, while the door is open to joining college basketball, any team with the right offer has a chance to land the guard who has averaged 16 points per game in the league this season.
Additional Landing Spots For Dink Pate That Make Sense
In addition to Kentucky, Dink Pate could end up in a number of different situations. If he wants a spotlight, he could do worse than UConn, a team that has averaged 77.1 points per game this season, which is 145th in the NCAA.
Additionally, if the college basketball hopeful wants to be essentially guaranteed a slot in the playoffs in the 2026-27 season, he could make a move to join the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Under Mark Few, the team has only missed March Madness one time since the 1999-2000 season.
The choice will be up to him. However, after already spending three seasons in the G-League, the odds seem high that Pate won’t spend too long in the college ranks if his ultimate goal is to join the NBA and he is able to prove his worth quickly.
Will Pate explode in college or meet his match?
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