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Siena Basketball: Jalen Pickett and becoming the next mid-major star

By Benjamin Zacher

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 08: Jalen Pickett #22 of the Siena Saints dribbles up court during a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on November 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 08: Jalen Pickett #22 of the Siena Saints dribbles up court during a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on November 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 08: Jalen Pickett #22 of the Siena Saints  (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 08: Jalen Pickett #22 of the Siena Saints  (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

After opting out of the NBA draft for two straight seasons, Jalen Pickett is returning to Siena Basketball to take care of some unfinished business.

One of the most endearing storylines in all of college basketball is that of the mid-major star.  They are the underdogs, the Cinderellas, the darlings of the game – and unless they are the star of a team that your team is competing against, they are traditionally the players we root for.

It is one of the many reasons why the NCAA tournament is such an incredible event because it grants those players the opportunity to put their names – and their programs – in the national spotlight.

A few months ago, during the NBA playoffs, that mid-major royalty was on full display, particularly in the Western Conference play-in game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers.  The Grizzlies have been led this season by Ja Morant, the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, while the Trail Blazers have enjoyed success by the sensational guard duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

All three, as most basketball fans know, were mid-major darlings.  Morant was the most well-known freshman in college basketball in 2018-19 not named Zion Williamson, becoming the first player in NCAA history to average more than 20 points and 10 assists per game in a season while at Murray State.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were both four-year guards in college around the same time as each other.  Lillard was two-time Big Sky Player of the Year at Weber State, while McCollum, a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year honoree at Lehigh, cemented his legacy by leading the Mountain Hawks to a win over Duke in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

An interaction on Twitter between Memphis News sports columnist Mark Giannotto and Morant took place shortly after the Trail Blazers knocked off the Grizzlies in the play-in game:

"Giannotto: Damian Lillard on Ja Morant, with CJ McCollum nodding in agreement, during ABC postgame interview: “He’s a star already as a rookie.”  Weber State and Lehigh paying respect to Murray State.  They’re the best type of stars to have on your team, too. Morant, in a quote tweet: much respect to those guys 🤝 all mid major guards with chips on our shoulders.  they paved the way for me and i’m doing it for the ones coming up.  🙏 🖤 💪"

This interaction piqued my curiosity: who will be the next great mid-major guard in the NBA?  Is there even one currently in college basketball?

Enter Siena junior Jalen Pickett.

Pickett came to Loudonville, New York, in 2018, and has set the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on fire in his two years thus far.  He was recruited by current George Washington head coach Jamion Christian and flourished under Christian in his first season.  After participating in the G League Elite Camp in 2019, Pickett returned to the Saints and continued to prosper, this time under Carmen Maciariello.

A 6-4, 202-pound point guard, Pickett has already established himself as the best player in the MAAC.  He earned Rookie of the Year and First Team All-MAAC accolades his first year and followed that up with another First Team All-MAAC selection and Player of the Year honors his sophomore season.

After leading Siena to 20 wins and a MAAC regular-season title, Pickett opted to return to the Saints after their NCAA tournament hopes were dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two things that need to be explained when it comes to Pickett’s stardom: his stats and his professional aspirations.  The former can be compared to the aforementioned mid-major guards who have come before him, while the latter is guaranteed to be happening at the end of Pickett’s collegiate career.  In the following two slides, I will discuss both aspects.