Written By Andre Monroe
According to a release, Jalen Pickett has just been named both the Naismith Player of the Week and USBWA’s Oscar Robertson Player of the Week. Pickett, who averaged 36.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game last week, was also named ESPN National Player of the Week on Monday.
Pickett’s individual success has greatly contributed to the team’s success. The Nittany Lions are on a two-game winning streak, beating both Illinois and Minnesota in a one-week span. The Nittany Lions now sit at 16-11, and Pickett understands the goal at hand.
“It’s not March yet, selection Sunday has not come up yet,” Pickett said. “Just 1-0, just trying to go, keep doing my best, keep getting wins and building the resume and hopefully we can get there.”
The senior guard has been entering historical territory all season. Pickett reached 700 career rebounds against Minnesota, making him the first Division I men’s college basketball player in the last 37 years to gain 2,000+ career points, 700+ career rebounds, and 700+ career assists.
According to OptaSTATs, Pickett, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry are the only three players in NCAA Division I or the NBA to have a two-game span with 70+ points, 15+ assists, 10+ rebounds, 65.0+ FG% and 90.0+ FT% in the last 25 years.
Pickett has placed his name in discussions for best guard in all of college basketball, and has the statistics to prove it. Pickett is the only player in the country averaging at least 18 ppg to go along with 7 rpg and 7 assists per game (18/7/7).
Pickett and the Nittany Lions hope to continue stacking wins when they travel to Ohio State for a 6:30 p.m tipoff.
Andre Monroe covers Penn State Basketball for Insider Institute. Follow him on Twitter @amonroe_ and Contact him at andremonroe03@gmail.com.
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