Penn State star Jalen Pickett named an AP All-American, breaks 70-year streak

STATE COLLEGE, PA — On Tuesday, ahead of Thursday’s matchup against Texas A&M, the Penn State basketball team received some great news surrounding star guard Jalen Pickett. Pickett, who has been instrumental in getting his Penn State Nittany Lions to the NCAA tournament with a 22-13 record this season, was named a second team AP All-American.

Penn State’s Jalen Picket named an AP All-American (second team)

Penn State basketball fans know that Jalen Pickett is a star; finally, the rest of the nation is starting to take note as well. On Tuesday, Jalen Pickett was named a second team AP All-American — Pickett also earned All-American honors from USBWA and NABC, meaning he was named an All-American by three of the four outlets used to determine consensus All-Americans.

The last (and only) time Penn State basketball had an All-American was in the mid-1950s when former Nittany Lion legend Jesse Arnelle received this honor. Now, nearly 70 years after the fact, Jalen Pickett has become the second-ever Penn State basketball player to be named an All-American. Additionally, he is the only Nittany Lion to ever earn USBWA District Player of the Year honors.

Pickett is one of the best players in the nation

Right now, Penn State’s Jalen Pickett is the only player in the country averaging at least 17 points (17.9) per game, seven rebounds (7.3) per game and six assists (6.7) per game. In a mere 66 games with Micah Shrewsberry and the Nittany Lions, Pickett has tallied 1,038 points, 390 rebounds, and 369 assists.

Ahead of Penn State’s first NCAA tournament berth in over a decade, more great news came the Nittany Lions’ way with some massive honors, including Pickett breaking Penn State’s long All-American drought.

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