Jalen Pickett

Jalen Pickett, born on October 22, 1999, is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born and raised in Rochester, New York, his journey to becoming a professional athlete is both multi-faceted and inspiring, reflecting his dedication and exceptional talent in basketball.

Pickett honed his skills, attending the Aquinas Institute for high school where he led a phenomenal junior season leading to a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship victory. This achievement was crowned with Pickett being crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP). In his senior season, he dominated the court, averaging a compelling 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and leading his team to reach the Class AA Federation Final. He further showcased his skills on the Albany-based program City Rocks in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit, where he joined forces with five-star recruit Isaiah Stewart.

The journey continued at SPIRE Institute, an Olympic training center in Geneva, Ohio, where Pickett had to complete a postgraduate year due to academic reasons. During this time, he played for the institute’s team, recording an impressive average of 14 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Thanks to his efforts, he became academically eligible for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Moving forward, Jalen Pickett, although considered a three-star recruit by Rivals, saw scant offers from NCAA Division I programs resulting in his commitment to Siena to play for first-year head coach Jamion Christian.

As a freshman at Siena, Pickett demonstrated his standout capabilities. In an impressive display of skill and perseverance, he managed a career-high 46 points and 13 assists in a triple-overtime loss to Quinnipiac, earning the title of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week a record eleven times. For his unyielding performance throughout the season, Pickett was named First-team All-MAAC and MAAC Rookie of the Year. His averages were an impressive 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 6.7 assists per game, playing a critical role in propelling him to the very apex of national ranks.

Pickett had an illustrious career at Siena which saw him named the MAAC Player of the Year at the close of the 2019–20 regular season, where he led his team to the MAAC regular-season championship, shooting a league-leading 6 assists per game and an average of 15.1 points per game. He did all this while managing to maintain a healthy three-point accuracy of 37.4 percent.

Pickett faced challenges in his junior years due to a hamstring injury and several COVID-19-related breaks, but he still managed to maintain strong averages with 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He earned First Team All-MAAC honors for his third consecutive season, confirming his status as an exceptional player. Deciding to transfer to Penn State, Pickett chose the Nittany Lions over Oregon State.

In his tenure at Penn State, Pickett continued to excel. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Pickett announced he would return for his final season of eligibility. This decision paid off greatly in a 93–81 victory over Illinois in which he scored a notable 41 points, setting a Bryce Jordan Center record and making him the first Penn State player to score 40 points since 1961.

Jalen Pickett’s career took a significant leap forward when the Indiana Pacers selected him as the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. However, his rights were then traded to the Denver Nuggets. This made Pickett the highest-drafted former Siena Saint, and he became one of the first pair of Penn State Nittany Lions teammates to be selected in the same NBA draft, a true testament to his talent and dedication. Today, Jalen Pickett continues to be a force to reckon with in the Denver Nuggets lineup, writing his own unique story in the annals of NBA history.