Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Patrick Whearty attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School but received no attention from college scouts due to injuries which prevented him from playing full seasons.
[1] He got the attention of Holy Cross because his mother called their assistant coach to tell him about an upcoming tournament that Whearty was playing in.
[4][5] After going undrafted in the 2003 NBA draft, Whearty embarked on a professional career that saw him land in France, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, and Japan.
[7] In an interview for the Holy Cross Alumni Magazine, Whearty recalled how the international leagues were a completely different vibe, including a rowdiness not seen in the United States: "I’m at home and then, 24 hours later, I'm wearing a Boca Juniors (Buenos Aires) uniform and being attacked by a bunch of crazies" and "The police barged onto the court with riot-control shields and escorted us to the team bus.
"[7] Whearty also recalled how he was paid while playing in Ukraine, saying "The guy takes out a wad of bills, peels off [$35,000], puts the money in a plastic bag and hands it to me.