VOTE for Pickett beginning Feb. 10
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has named Penn State men's basketball senior Jalen Pickett a top 10 candidate for the 2023 Bob Cousy Award, which recognizes the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball.
Penn State fans can support Pickett in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, February 10 on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Pickett is the only player in the country averaging at least 17 points (17.3) per game, seven rebounds per game (7.8) and seven assists (7.0) per game. Only one men's college basketball player in the last 30 years (since 1992-93 season) has finished the season averaging 17/7/7. Michigan State's Denzel Valentine finished the 2015-16 season averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game en route to first team All-America honors and Big Ten Player of the Year accolades.
The six-foot-four guard has played his best in Big Ten play, averaging 18.4 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game and 6.3 assists per game through 12 conference contests. He's shooting 54.2% from the field, 41.2% percent from 3-point range and 75.8% from the free throw line in conference action.
Pickett leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally in both assists per game (7.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.20). The Rochester, N.Y. native is the only Big Ten player that ranks in the top 10 of the conference statistical standings in scoring (fifth), rebounding (seventh) and assists (first).
Pickett has tallied six double-doubles and one triple-double this season, just the second triple-double in Penn State history. The do-it-all point guard has recorded nine 20-point games this season, 21 double-digit scoring efforts, and has led Penn State in assists in 22 games.
Pickett is on track to set a Penn State single-season assists record. The current single-season Nittany Lion record stands with Tim Frazier's 198 assists in 2012. Pickett already has 160 assists through 23 games this season, meaning he needs to average just 4.2 helpers per game through the remaining nine guaranteed games to best the school-record mark.
Pickett has put together a stellar collegiate career with career marks of 1,949 points, 685 rebounds and 758 assists through three seasons at Siena and two at Penn State. He is the only active Division I player with upwards of 1,900 career points, 600 career rebounds and 700 career assists.
The top 10 candidacy for the Bob Cousy Award adds to Pickett's lengthy list of mid/late-season recognition that includes Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List, Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List and Sporting News Midseason All-America Third Team.
Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor, now in its 20th year, recognizes the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball. In March, five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Bob Cousy Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2023 Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Collin Gillespie, Villanova (2022), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's (2004).
2023 Bob Cousy Award Top 10 Candidates
Jalen Pickett, Penn State
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
Souly Boum, Xavier
Tyger Campbell, UCLA
Yuri Collins, St. Louis
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Kendric Davis, Memphis
Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Mike Miles, TCU
Markquis Nowell, Kansas State
