Brandon Pate, a standout Pitt State point guard remembered for his competitive fire and calm leadership, will be inducted posthumously into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. After starring for the Gorillas in 1999-2001, he spent 18 years working in education and later coached high school basketball before dying at age 45 in 2021.

By the Numbers
  • At Pitt State, Pate averaged 16.9 points and 4.9 assists across 59 games.
  • He scored 29 points against No. 4 Kansas and set a career high with 38 points against Southwest Baptist.
  • As a senior, he helped lead the Gorillas to a 21-9 record.
Yes, But

Pate’s excellence did not bring a postseason berth: Pitt State narrowly missed the NCAA Division II tournament during his senior season. His legacy extended beyond statistics, with former teammates and players remembering his leadership, patience and care for others.

What’s Next

Pate will be inducted Friday, Oct. 23, in a ceremony at Pitt State’s Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. The Hall of Fame class will also be recognized at halftime of Saturday’s football game against Central Oklahoma.

Bottom Line

Pate’s Hall of Fame honor recognizes more than a prolific college career: it celebrates a competitor whose influence carried from the court into classrooms, coaching and the lives of those around him.