NBA Draft: Rochester’s Own Jalen Pickett Is Heading To The Denver Nuggets

The Aquinas Grad and Penn State college All-American Jalen Pickett was the 32nd overall NBA pick by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA Draft. The journey for Pickett to reach the NBA was a long one. He left Aquinas as a state champion, but with no Division I offers. After a year at a prep school in Ohio, Pickett went to Siena where he shined for three seasons. He really hit his stride after transferring to Penn State, becoming an All-American and leading the Nittany Lions to an NCAA Tournament win.

Pickett fellows Rochester native Thomas Bryant just won a title with the Nuggets, though he is an unrestricted free agent. Pickett hopes Bryant will stick around so the two can play together. Pickett joins Bryant and Isaiah Stewart as recent NBA Draft picks from Rochester. Bryant was taken 42nd overall by the Lakers in 2017 and Stewart was taken 16th overall by the Pistons in 2020. Fellow Rochesterians Anthony Lamb (Golden State) and Jeenathan Williams (Portland) are also currently in the NBA.

Source: Rochester First

From zero D1 offers leaving @AQ_Basketball to the 32nd pick in the NBA draft, Rochester native Jalen Pickett's NBA dream became a reality as he heard his name called at the podium, a moment that got even him emotional.@News_8 @AQAlumni @AQ_football @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/G14stf9Qjb

— AJ Feldman (@AJFeldmanTV) June 23, 2023

Rochester native Jalen Pickett is excited to join the Denver Nuggets, the defending NBA champions.

"I know they're hungry to compete. All they talk about is being a dynasty so I know they want more."#bRINGItIn @News_8 pic.twitter.com/XDD4ZBnSJN

— AJ Feldman (@AJFeldmanTV) June 23, 2023