NBA Comparison: Jeremy Pargo/Shelvin Mack

Strengths: A mature and crafty point guard with tremendous strength … Loves to play a physical brand of basketball … Surprising post skills and shot creation with his back turned to the basket … Excellent efficiency and court vision from the low block allowed him to dissect opposing defenses with post scoring and timely passes out of double teams to create open looks for shooters on the perimeter … Crafty ball-handler who can keep his dribble going until a decision needs to be made … This helped prevent turnovers (2.3 TO) despite his high usage (27.3%) and assist rate (39.2%) for the Nittany Lions … Keeping his dribble so long also helped him obtain excellent position in the low post by continuously forcing his defender under the basket … Physical driver who isn’t afraid to draw contact and get to the line. His free throw attempts per game do not do justice to his willingness to create contact and finish through it at the rim … Covers a lot of ground with his step back jumper, allowing him to get his shot up from the mid-range or 3-point arc over lengthier defenders … Converted many of these fallaway jumpers on his way to a 17.7 point average in his final season in Happy Valley … High-level patience with the ball in his hand … Gritty player who scraps for rebounds (7.4 per game) and elevates the play of his teammates with his tenacity and leadership … Capable of a triple-double on any night in college with his well-rounded play. Can impact the game in many ways even when his shot isn’t falling … Productive in all five years of his college career, averaging no less than 12.9 points per game … Utilizes a deceptive shot-fake at all three levels to get out of tight quarters and steal points at the foul line … A savvy veteran who can contribute meaningful minutes running a second unit with efficiency and leadership … Decent foul-shooter at 76% … Physical style should allow him to switch onto most perimeter players and even into the post if need be … High IQ on both ends of the floor

Weaknesses: Doesn’t boast great size or length at just 6’2 barefoot with a 6’7.5 wingspan as a combo gaurd … Not very gifted athletically, although he seems to make up for it with his craftiness and poise (33 inch vertical is below NBA average for guards) … Won’t blow by a defender to create penetration or get to the rim with pace … One of the oldest prospects in the draft class at 24 years old (October 22nd) by opening night … The exclusion of a five-second rule with your back to the basket in college allowed Pickett to stay patient backing players down, which he won’t be able to do at the next level … A lot of his effectiveness came with the time he was allotted to keep his back turned and keep his eyes on the shooters who would come open around him … Won’t match the athleticism of his counterparts in the backcourt, which will make it difficult for him to stay in front defensively … Although he can create immense space with his step-back jumper, the additional length in the NBA could provide more problems for him with his unorthodox style …

Notes: Measured: 6′ 2.00” barefoot, 8′ 2.50” standing reach, 197.8 lbs, 6′ 7.25” wingspan and a 33 inch maximum vertical at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine … The cornerstone to Penn State’s resurgent, 13th ranked offense according to KenPom … Consensus Second-Team All-American in 2023 … First Team All-Conference in 4 separate seasons (2019-2021 MAAC, 2023 Big Ten) … MAAC Rookie of the Year (2019) and Player of the Year (2020) … 2022-23 Wooden Award National Ballot … Five-year starter (3 seasons at Siena, 2 seasons at Penn State) … Only D-1 men’s basketball player since at least 1985-86 to score 2,000+ points, 700+ rebounds and 800+ assists in a career … First D-1 men’s basketball player to average 17/7/6 on 50% shooting since 1992-93 …

Derek Bast 6/11/23