Dink Pate commits to Providence over Kentucky
Pate won’t be making his way to Lexington after all.
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Team ELY guard Dink Pate (1) of the G League Ignite shoots the ball against Team BallIsLife during the G-League Next Up game at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Kentucky Basketball will not land Dink Pate, who made his commitment to Providence on Thursday after spending the last three seasons in the NBA G League. Pate, who recently turned 20 years old, will leave the professional ranks to play college basketball.
The 6-foot-7 point guard first made headlines in 2023 when he joined the NBA G League Ignite, becoming the youngest professional basketball player in United States history. During the 2023–24 season with Ignite, Pate played under former Kentucky assistant coach Jason Hart, who is now at SMU. Once that move happened, many thought that could be it for the Wildcats’ chances with Pate.
While Mark Pope did recently hold a Zoom call with Pate, Providence was able to win out in the end. This season, Pate has played for the Westchester Knicks in the G League, where he has averaged over 15 points per game while shooting 41. 3% from the field and 37.
7% from 3-point range. The versatile guard also averaged over five rebounds and nearly four assists per contest, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Before joining Westchester, Pate spent time with both the G League Ignite and the Mexico City Capitanes, giving him professional experience against older and more seasoned competition.