Top hoops prospect Patrick Baldwin Jr. spurns Duke to play for dad at UW-Milwaukee
In the end, family beat out the bluebloods.
Patrick Baldwin Jr., one of the highest-rated basketball recruits to ever come from Wisconsin, has made his college decision.
He's staying home.
Baldwin, a 6-foot-9 senior forward out of Sussex Hamilton in Wisconsin, will play next year for his father, Patrick Baldwin Sr., the head coach at UW-Milwaukee.
Baldwin announced his commitment Wednesday, choosing the Panthers out of a top 10 that included Duke, Georgetown, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Northwestern, UCLA, Virginia and Wisconsin. Duke and Georgetown were in the final three schools on Wednesday.
ESPN and Rivals rank Baldwin as the No. 4 player in the class of 2021. 247 Sports rates him fifth overall nationally.
Baldwin is the highest-rated recruit from Wisconsin in the online rankings era, which dates to 1999. Diamond Stone (No. 6), Henry Ellenson (No. 9), Brian Butch (No. 10), Kevon Looney (No. 11), Sam Dekker (No. 12), and Jalen Johnson (No. 13) all have been regarded similarly coming out of high school, but none has had a composite ranking as high as Baldwin's nor been rated as the country’s top player, which Baldwin was at one point.
He will become the first top-10 recruit to sign with a mid-major program out of high school since Charles Bassey at Western Kentucky in 2018. When he plays his first game at UWM, he will be the highest-ranked player by 247's composite rankings to play at a mid-major as a freshman dating to the database's beginning in 2003.
Baldwin held offers from Duke and Kentucky, programs known for producing one-and-done players, as well as top-recruiting schools such as Michigan, North Carolina and UCLA. Given that it's likely Baldwin will play only one season in college before heading off to the NBA, those were enticing options in the recruiting process.
None, however, had the ultimate pull of playing college ball for a parent just minutes from where he went to high school. And if it turns out that Baldwin needs only one season in college before turning pro, why not take advantage of that rare opportunity?
As a prospect, Baldwin presents a versatile package, particularly on offense. With the Chargers, he has served as a primary ball-handler, showcasing the ability to create his own shot while also displaying court vision and willingness to distribute. He can get to the rim and finish while also flashing the ability at times to hit tough shots in the mid-range.
Baldwin’s three-point shooting may be his greatest strength. His form is refined and mechanics repeatable. A 39.7% shooter from deep with Hamilton, he can shoot both off the dribble and the catch.
As a freshman, Baldwin arrived on the scene with an immediate splash. With the elder Baldwin taking the head coaching job at UWM and the family moving to Sussex from the Chicago area, the younger Baldwin averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting over 61% as he led Hamilton to the Division 1 state semifinals, its first trip to state since 1987.
The ensuing spring and summer AAU season saw Baldwin’s recruitment take off. Arizona State was first to offer in late April but was soon followed by the likes of Florida, Marquette, Northwestern, UCLA and Wisconsin that summer.
In Baldwin’s sophomore year, he was a first-team all-state selection as he upped his averages to 19 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Baldwin was named Gatorade state player of the year as a junior as he averaged 24.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Chargers, who had a 22-3 record and reached the sectional final before the season was prematurely ended due to COVID-19.
His senior season was cut short after he suffered a high ankle sprain in Hamilton's second game of the season.
Contact Curt Hogg at chogg@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @CyrtHogg.