Partin played high school basketball at Raleigh, North Carolina's Jesse O. Sanderson High School before one additional year at Charis Prep in Wilson, North Carolina.
[1] In his final season at Sanderson, he averaged 23.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while leading the team to a 34–8 overall record.
He did not fare particularly well; he averaged 2.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game his freshman season, and 4.6, 0.9 and 0.7, respectively, during his sophomore campaign.
[2] He decided to transfer to Boston University (BU) but had to sit out the 2009–10 season due to NCAA eligibility rules.
[1] During his senior year, the Terriers finished third in the conference and with an overall record of just 16–16, thus missing out on a postseason tournament bid.