Big Ten Basketball: Top 20 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season

No. 16 Jalen Pickett – Penn State

The 6-4 guard from Rochester brings a bevy of individual awards as he leaves Siena for Penn State. Jalen Pickett has won everything from MAAC Rookie of The Year to MAAC Player of the Year to being selected to the All-MAAC Tournament team. The only accolade, however, that was bestowed upon him in the 2020-21 season was his third consecutive selection to the All-MAAC First Team.

With eight players transferring out of Penn State a starting position in the Nittany Lions’ backcourt is open for Pickett. During his three seasons at Siena, the 2020-21 season was Pickett’s worse. His 12.9 points per game were mostly a by-product of being able to take MAAC defenders off the dribble, yet his 44 percent success on two-point field goals drastically lowered his career 50 percent.

Having had ball-handling responsibility for Siena, he will provide a second ball-handler in the backcourt, which will be essential as his 36 percent shooting from beyond the arc will not break any games open. His 2020-21 stats may be less impressive, they are well rounded as he added over six rebounds and almost five assists per game.

A big reason for the lower scoring average is Pickett’s inconsistency throughout the season, as he failed to score double-digits four times and scored 20 or more just twice. He has the skill and physical attributes to warrant being higher on the list, but he is now in the Big Ten and not the MAAC.