Far from the bright lights and big reputation of the Syracuse Orangemen, the burgeoning college hoopster seems to have found his calling in Louisiana.

This southern state may be renowned for cajun cooking, catfish and the mellow sounds of jazz, but Patrick has a tune of his own to play. His is the reverberating chord of a basketball bouncing off the gym floor.

Patrick, the son of Bermudian Icen Patrick and Vicky Patrick, made noise during the 1995-96 college season while a freshman at Syracuse University in New York. As a back-up point guard he went all the way to the promised land -- that is the Final Four -- before the Orangemen were beaten by Kentucky 76-67 in the national championships.

It was an experience he well remembers.

"That's been the best experience of my life so far, nothing I can think of could top that,'' said Patrick, reflecting on the period known as March Madness. "It's like the whole of America is all over you for the whole week.

"Wherever we went we had media; crowds followed us everywhere and even though we didn't win I think the experience of being there, in the spotlight was great for me.'' However, frustrated by diminishing playing time and the plodding style promoted by coach Jim Boeheim, the 5-foot-10 guard decided to seek another pasture.

His search took him to Lafayette and the University of Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns of the Sunbelt Conference. Patrick had previously attended Chapel Trafton High School in Baton Rouge, so the area was not totally foreign.

"The style of basketball they played up there was kind of slow tempo and geared for the big man. And me, not being that big, I wanted a more up-tempo programme and at Southwestern they really like to push the ball and run a lot,'' explained Patrick, who carries a 2.9 grade point average while majoring in criminal justice, with a minor in child and family studies.

"That's why I decided to come down here, because I figure for me to make it, whether in the NBA or overseas -- wherever I'm going to play -- I need to be in a programme that plays the way I play.'' Does he regret leaving Syracuse, all the media glare and hype and playing in the Carrier Dome? "I might miss some of the people, but no, I don't regret leaving there at all.'' Still, the move did not come without great sacrifice, for this season has the 20-year-old occupying a spectator role.

NCAA rules mandate that transfer athletes sit out a year after changing schools, although they are allowed to practice with the team. And it is the inability to play and compete that bothers Patrick most of all.

"Yeah, it's frustrating not being able to play and having to sit on the side watching the team,'' said Patrick. "But it gives me a chance to catch up with my studies, that's the only good thing about it.'' Like many young ball players, Patrick has dreams of someday weaving his magic in the National Basketball Association.

But he is under no illusion as to what it will take and is not pinning his college existence solely upon basketball, even though it is the sport that paved the way for him to go to such institutions as Syracuse and Southwestern Louisiana, which may have otherwise been beyond reach from a financial standpoint.

Nevertheless, he is sure he will play professionally somewhere once his college playing days are over.

Patrick, known for his solid ball handling skills and great vertical leap -- he can dunk despite his small stature -- lived in Melbourne, Australia, for three years from the age of 14, just prior to emigrating to the United States.

He could have turned pro directly out of high school, yet decided to try his hand among the American college ranks while working towards earning a degree.

"I know I can always go to Australia and play professionally after my four years here, but my long term goal is to try and make it to the NBA, that's everyone's goal,'' said Patrick, who visited Bermuda during the Christmas period and hopes to return over the summer to do some work with the Island's youngsters.

"At the moment when I see the players that are above me, you know, three years older than me I see myself as not being too far off, so I think I'll do it. As long as I keep working hard anything can happen.'' Patrick emphasised there to be no substitute for hard work and advised young Bermudians looking for the chance to compete on the college level abroad to complete their last year of high school in the US to enhance recruitment chances.

"It's hard for those coaches to come to Bermuda, but if you can find a school here and you're good, the coaches will find you.

"I'm hoping that me being perhaps the first (from Bermuda) to play Division One basketball will open the doors to some of the kids over there.'' For the moment Patrick sits and watches, patiently waiting for his chance to shine.

DAVID PATRICK -- has switched from Syracuse University to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, still harbouring ambitions of a career in the NBA.