Penn State Men’s Basketball: Jalen Pickett Receives Second-Team All-American Honors

State College - Jalen Pickett Sophie-Yadzinski_Mens-Basketball-vs.-Rutgers (1)

Penn State guard Jalen Pickett takes a shot against Rutgers’ Aundre Hyatt during the Nittany Lions’ 59-56 loss on Sunday, Feb. 26. Photo by Sophie Yadzinski | Onward State

By

Ben Jones

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March 7, 2023 – 11:46 am

Jalen Pickett continues to take home significant national honors as his historic college career nears its close adding to his resume a second-team All-American nod by Sporting News marking just the second Penn State player to ever receive second-team or higher All-American recognition. He follows in the footsteps of Jesse Arnelle who was named a first-team All-American in 1954 and a second-team recipient in 1955.

Sporting News joins the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches and United States Basketball Writers Association as one of the four organizations the NCAA recognizes for the creation of All-American teams.

Coming off a dramatic last-second win over Maryland this past weekend the Nittany Lions open conference tournament play against No. 7-seed Illinois at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday in Chicago. The Nittany Lions are 2-0 this season against the Illini. Pickett will look to extend his outstanding season during which he finished the regular season campaign averaging 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists. He is the only player in the country averaging those numbers. The Nittany Lions are currently projected by many outlets to be the last team in the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to Tuesday’s honors, Pickett is also one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the nation’s top point guard. He also earned late season watch list honors from the Wooden Award National Ballot and the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Pickett recently set Penn State’s single-season assist record with 216 through 31 games and recorded the program’s second-ever triple-double in a win against Butler. Pickett has come close to another triple-double on several occasions since.

Pickett’s scoring was also highlighted by a 41-point outing earlier in the year against Illinois in a 93-81 victory at the Bryce Jordan Center in February. Picket followed up that performance with a 32-point outing in Penn State’s win over Minnesota just a few days later.

2023 Sporting News All-Americans

First Team