City of Basketball Love

Justin Procope (@1procope)
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When it comes to success on the basketball court, much of it relies on instincts and feelings. Any hesitation that comes with doubting oneself could be all the difference between a win and a loss. Instincts and feelings are what led Lauren Patnode to the position she found herself in, with more than 20 collegiate programs vying for her signature. 

So when she tried on the blue and yellow threads of La Salle for the first time during a photoshoot while on a recruiting visit to the campus just a few weeks ago in June, those instincts kicked in once again. 

“These photos better be good because I think they’re going to be used again pretty soon,” she told the photographer with a laugh. “This is where I want to go.”

Her mother Cynthia, who joined her on the visit along with her father Patrick, was surprised at her daughter’s level of certainty. Despite her parents urging her to take a day to think it over as they all had planned prior, Patnode’s mind was made up. After a short drive back home, she called La Salle head coach Mountain MacGillivray and informed him of her commitment June 27 before officially announcing it the next day on her social media. 

It marked the conclusion of a long journey that started with Patnode’s transfer to the Perkiomen following the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that was made with academics and basketball in mind. There was also a familiarity factor for Patnode and Perkiomen, as her brother Andrew previously graduated and played basketball at the school before playing at Boston University. But most of all, she recognized a program on the rise and wanted to be a part of it. 

Even still, the jump from a large public school in Saratoga, N.Y. to being on her own at a small boarding school was certainly an adjustment for Patnode. But it was one she believes was crucial for her development as a player and as a person. 

“I would call my mom saying… How do I do this? What am I supposed to do?” Patnode said. “But the changes that were made not only athletically but just from a maturity standpoint were… I can’t even put it into words. I finally became my person there.”

A 6-foot-tall guard with an excellent jumper and an affinity for an uptempo style of play, Patnode shined during her junior season and made history for Perkiomen along the way, leading them to the program's first-ever PAISAA tournament win against Academy of the New Church.

Guards with good size who can shoot the three and cause problems defensively are coveted in today’s game. It’s no secret then why so many schools were after her services. None of that intimidated Patnode, as Division I basketball is something that had been on her mind ever since she started playing up with the 17U girls for her AAU team Elevate NYBC as a seventh grader. 

Along with her advanced skills, Patnode was lucky enough to have people around her, including friends and both of her siblings, who had already gone through the recruiting process and were happy to offer advice whenever she needed it. 

“They were there supporting me and helping me through it whenever I got stressed out,” said Patnode. “Because it is stressful. Sometimes it’s like a job. You’re on calls at this time, then it’s visits… it’s a lot”

Patnode also took visits to Columbia, Colgate, UMass, and Manhattan. However, the relationship she had built with La Salle proved to make a difference. 

With MacGillivray taking the lead, several members of the La Salle coaching staff remained in contact with the senior guard since they first reached out in April. Once she arrived for an official visit to the campus last month, Patnode was captivated by the intensity and energy level MacGillivray had his team practicing with on their first day back. 

“It blew my mind,” she said. “They all looked like a family… like a team that wanted to play together and win together.”

While they have not yet discussed how they see her fitting into the team, Patnode believes MacGilliivray’s coaching style and the program’s fast pace style offense will suit her game well. There is still sure to be a learning curve when it comes to life as a college athlete, as she noted the difference in the speed her friends who are at the college level play with whenever they get together for pick-up games, but she is optimistic her experiences at Perkiomen will continue to help ease that transition. 

“Everything about [Perkiomen] definitely helped me mature enough and get ready for college,” Patnode said. 

She knows she will have to continue to develop and refine aspects of her game if she is going to play big minutes and contribute in two seasons to a La Salle team looking to improve upon a 17-14 record. 

“I have been working on my left hand, it has to be stronger to play at that level and finish at that level, as well as my mid-range. I'm gonna have to be able to score at all three levels in college,” Patnode said. “Getting stronger is one thing I’ll also focus on throughout the school year and the summer because it’ll be completely different in college. Everyone there is super strong.”

For now, there are still games to be played and work to be done before she officially sets off on the next chapter of her basketball journey next Fall. Those instincts and intangibles that led Patnode to this decision will be tested at the next level as naturally she is bound to have moments of doubt and adversity. But if she continues to listen to that same voice that spoke to her during her visit, history suggests we can expect big things to come from Patnode and the Explorers.

“It feels amazing. It’s a relief… I know where my home is,” she said.