Ryan Patzwald

Walk-on, non scholarship player.
Picture (Patzwald with the ball)
http://Cincinnati.com/preps/2002/01/05/andpatzwald_zoom.jpg

10/12/04: Received confirmation that Patzwald is enrolled at Cincinnati and will be at Midnight Madness. - Mike Ryan

09/16/04: Patzwald changes commitment, walks on at UC
(updated article - partially published in mid August)
By Dave Schutte Community Press newspaper
(writers errors corrected in parentheses)

Since the second grade while watching college basketball on television, Ryan Patzwald often dreamed of playing for a Division I school.

It appeared Patzwald, a recent Anderson High School graduate, had given up on living out that fantasy after signing to play for Northern Kentucky University in March, a Division II school in Highland Heights, Ky. But, Patzwald will get the opportunity to play Division I college basketball, after all.

Thanks to the tenacious effort by Anderson coach Frank Brandy, Patzwald will be given the opportunity to walk on at the University of Cincinnati and play for coach Bob Huggins. "I was talking with Ryan's mother (Rea) several months ago," Brandy said. "She said Ryan wanted to know about the opportunity of walking on at UC. She told me he was very serious about it."

Brandy contacted UC assistant coach (Dan Peters), now an assistant Ohio State University under former Xavier coach Thad Matta, about Patzwald walking on and was given thumbs up.

After Kennedy departed, Brandy talked with (Andy) Kennedy, another assistant at UC, to confirm Patzwald's status and was reassured that nothing had changed. "It's a done deal," Brandy said. "NKU gave the needed release last week. Ryan now has a spot on UC's team. I'm happy for Ryan because that's what he's always wanted to do."

A speedy and aggressive outside shooting guard for Anderson, Patzwald averaged 20 points as a senior, 17 as a junior, 12 as a sophomore and eight his freshman year. He also played goalie for the soccer team and was second in shutouts. "NKU was a great opportunity and a top notch program," Patzwald said. "But, I kind of wanted to chase something different. At first, mom and dad (Dr. John) were nervous about it but they then encouraged me to go after it."

Patzwald's oldest brother, John, is the Director Golf at a Phoenix, Arizona Golf Club and his second brother, Dave, owns a consulting firm in Dallas, TX.

The entire family met in Phoenix last week. "We're so proud of Ryan," Dr. Patzwald, superintendent of the Forest Hills School District, said. "NKU is a fine program and it would have been easy for Ryan to go that route. All he wanted was a chance and he's now getting it."

Patzwald registered at UC on Monday and registered for classes with the intent of reporting to the basketball team in early September, several weeks after Huggins returns to take over the team." - Community Press
_____

08/19/04: "He is definitely a shooter and has been working out for the last few weeks to get in shape for D1 ball. I saw him play many times in HS and during the summer AAU seasons." - Mike Ryan, BearcatNews.com Forum

03/07/04: Finished third in the FAVC in scoring at 19.7 ppg. He also averaged 34% from the three pt line, and 72% from the line. Averaged 5 apg.

01/14/04: "Cincinnati Anderson's Ryan Patzwald scored a career-high 34 points against Walnut Hills and then came back the next night for 32 more in another win over Glen Este." - Mansfield News Journal

12/05/03: Listed as the 87th best player in Ohio (Jamar #1, Terwilliger #2, Mark Dorris, #27, Carl Richburg #43) - HoopScoop