BUTLER TWP — Luke Patten is looking to buy time.

IMG Academy is selling it.

Transaction complete.

Patten, Butler's 6-foot-4 forward who lost his senior basketball season to knee surgery, has opted to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and play for the postgraduate basketball team there.

His older brother, Nick, spent his senior year at IMG Academy, played baseball there and wound up accepting a scholarship from the University of Delaware and eventually getting drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“The basketball program there is very similar to baseball,” the younger Patten said. “Very successful.

“By going there, I don't lose any college eligibility. It gives me a chance to take a year of general studies that will help me toward college and get my game back in shape.”

Patten averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a junior for the Golden Tornado. He was a key cog in Butler's run to the WPIAL Class 6A championship game that year.

He tore ligaments in a knee during an open gym workout last October. The knee buckled on him again in December, necessitating a second surgery and knocking him out for his senior season.

Dickinson, Geneva, La Roche and Grove City were among colleges recruiting Patten for next year.

“I'm getting close, but my knee is still six weeks away from being cleared to resume full physical activities,” Patten said. “If I had gone to college next year, I'd probably be red-shirted anyway.

“This way, I can play with and against some of the best competition out there.”

IMG Academy was the No. 1 ranked postgraduate men's basketball team in the nation last year. Players from that team are moving on to UNLV, Providence, Rice, VCU and Alabama.

The team posted a 29-3 record.

“Our program serves a couple of purposes,” IMG Academy coach Chad Myers said. “It gives some players a year of prep for moving on to major college teams. It gives other players a chance to get exposure and more notice from college coaches.”

Patten admits he will have to earn his minutes on the floor.

“I'm going to be pushed, but that will be good for me,” he said. “Going up against guys like that every day in practice will only improve my work ethic.”

IMG Academy has a couple of postgraduate teams and forms a 12-player national squad, That team had some injuries late last year and was upset in the national tournament.

“Some guys have elevated their games here,” Myers said. “We've had players come in who were barely recruited in high school and they end up going to Division I schools.

“What's good about our program is kids learn what level of college basketball best suits them. We help them pick the right college.”

IMG Academy's postgraduate team takes five or six airplane flights a season, including trips to New Hampshire, Washington D.C. and Atlanta for tournaments.

“I've seen film on Luke. He was hurt before we had a chance to watch him play live,” Myers said. “But he's got all the physical tools and he's a versatile player. We try to bring in two or three guys at every position because our roster overturns every year. He could help us in a variety of ways.”

Patten emphasized that his knee has gotten stronger through consistent physical therapy.

“My PT facility has remained open through this pandemic and I've been doing a lot of running on the treadmill,” he said. “I'm getting close.”

Patten said he wants to major in business once he does get to college.

“This was a difficult decision to make, but I believe it's the best path for me right now,” he said of IMG Academy.