Penn State Nittany Lions

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Finished five-year collegiate career with marks of 2,207 points (15.3 ppg), 780 rebounds (5.4 rpg), 841 assists (5.8 apg), 178 steals and 115 blocks...Became the only Division I men’s basketball player since at least the 1985-86 season to have accumulated career marks of 2,000+ career points, 700+ career rebounds and 800+ career assists...Collegiate career culminated in a Consensus All-American season in 2022-23 as he averaged 17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 6.6 apg with a 50.8 FG%, becoming the first Division I men’s college basketball player since at least the 1992-93 season to average 17/7/6 or better while shooting at least 50% from the field...Played three seasons at Siena before playing final two seasons at Penn State...Tallied 1,068 points, 407 rebounds and 378 assists through just 68 games in a Penn State uniform, reaching the 1,000-point milestone in a Penn State uniform in just 65 games. 

AS A SENIOR+ - 2022-23
Season: Put together All-America caliber season and one of the finest seasons in college basketball history, averaging 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 50.8% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and 76.3% from the free throw line...Became the first Division I men’s college basketball player since at least the 1992-93 season to average 17/7/6 or better while shooting at least 50% from the field...Scored in double figures in 34 games with 13 20-point games, two 30-point games and a 40-point effort...Had seven double-doubles and one triple-double.

Awards:

• Consensus All-American (AP, NABC, Sporting News & USBWA)
• Associated Press All-American – second team
• NABC All-American – second team
• Sporting News All-American – second team
• USBWA All-American – third team
• Wooden Award All-American
• Top 5 Candidate for Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award
• USBWA District II Player of the Year
• USBWA All-District II
• NABC First Team All-District 7
• Oscar Robertson Trophy Lateseason Watch List
• Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team
• Consensus First Team All-Big Ten – media (unanimous) & coaches
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team
• National Player of the Week – Feb. 20 – ESPN, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Lute Olson, NCAA March Madness
• Two-time Big Ten Player of the Week – Dec. 27, Feb. 20
• Charleston Classic All-Tournament Team
• Preseason All-Big Ten

Rankings: Became the first Division I men’s college basketball player since at least the 1992-93 season to average 17/7/6 or better while shooting at least 50% from the field...Led the Big Ten and ranked fifth in the nation with 6.6 assists per game...Ranked second in the Big Ten and 13th in Division I with a 2.89 assist-to-turnover ratio...Ranked 12th in the nation with 260 field goals made...Ranked 24th in the country with 655 points...Was one of only two Big Ten players to rank top 10 in the conference in scoring (17.7 ppg – 5th), rebounds (7.4 – 8th), assists (6.6 – 1st) and FG% (50.8% - 6th).

Records: Set Penn State single-season assists record with 243 assists, crushing previous record of 198 assists that was set by Tim Frazier in 2012...Tied Penn State single-season field goals made record of 260 (also Jarrett Stephens, 2000)...Recorded second triple-double and first points-rebounds-assists triple-double in school history against Butler on Nov. 14, 2022...Set Bryce Jordan Center record with 41 points and 15 made field goals against Illinois on Feb. 14, 2023.

Winthrop (11/7): Tallied game-high 23 points on 69.2% shooting (9-13) while adding five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal in season opener. Butler (11/14): Recorded the second triple-double and the first points-rebounds-assists triple-double in Penn State history in Gavitt Games victory, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and zero turnovers. vs. Furman (11/17): Shot 72.7% (8-11) from the floor for 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists. vs. Colorado State (11/20): Tallied second double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds, finishing three-game Charleston Classic with marks of 15.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 6.0 apg to earn All-Tournament honors. at Clemson (11/29): Had 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in ACC/Big Ten Challenge game. Michigan State (12/7): Pulled down career-high 17 rebounds while adding 13 points and eight assists for third double-double of the season. at #17 Illinois (12/10): Had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Penn State’s largest-ever road win over a ranked team. Quinnipiac (12/22): Finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Iowa (1/1): Shot 62.5% (10-16) from the field to finish with 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists in New Year’s Day victory. at Michigan (1/4): Had 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. #1 Purdue (1/8): Scored 26 points for third-straight game, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against the nation’s top-ranked team. at Wisconsin (1/17): Had fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with six assists. Nebraska (1/21): Had second-straight double-double and sixth of the season with 12 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Michigan (1/29): Finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Illinois (2/14): Recorded the first 40-point game by a Nittany Lion since 1961 and set a Bryce Jordan Center record with 41 points...Added eight assists in his dazzling effort that saw him shoot 75 percent (15-20) from the field, 5-for-9 from deep and 6-for-6 from the free throw line...Became just the third player in program history to record a 40-point game. at Minnesota (2/18): Recorded second-straight 30-point game with 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in road win...Averaged 36.5 ppg, 8.0 apg and 5.5 rpg in Minnesota and Illinois games to earn clean sweep of every major National Player of the Week award as well as Big Ten Player of the Week honors. at Ohio State (2/23): Scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the final 7:15 to lead Penn State to crucial road victory while finishing 8-for-11 from the field. at Northwestern (3/1): Dished Big Ten career-best 11 assists while adding seven points and six rebounds. #21 Maryland (3/5): Tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Senior Day victory. vs. Illinois – Big Ten Tournament Second Round (3/9): Had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. vs. Northwestern – Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (3/10): Finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal. vs. #19 Indiana – Big Ten Tournament Semifinals (3/11): Had game-high 28 points while adding eight rebounds and four assists to lead Penn State to its first Big Ten Tournament Championship game since 2011. vs. #5 Purdue – Big Ten Tournament Championship (3/12): Tallied 11 points, six rebounds and four assists...Earned spot on Big Ten All-Tournament team after averaging 16.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 4.5 apg through run to title game. vs. #17 Texas A&M – NCAA Tournament First Round (3/16): Had 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Penn State’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2001. vs. #5 Texas – NCAA Tournament Second Round (3/18): Had seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

AS A SENIOR – 2021-22
Season: Transferred to Penn State after stellar three-year career at Siena and made immediate impact upon arrival, starting in all 31 games for the Nittany Lions…Led team in scoring (13.3 ppg), assists (135), steals (35) and minutes played (37.2 mpg)…Scored in double figures in 25 games with four 20-point efforts.

Rankings: Led the Big Ten with 37.2 minutes per game which also ranked 11th in all of Division I…Ranked second in the conference and 27th in the country with a 2.45 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
Youngstown State (11/10): Made Penn State debut and tallied nine points, five rebounds and two assists. Cornell (11/22): Had first double-digit scoring game in a Penn State uniform with 15 points and six assists. vs. LSU (11/26): Tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. vs. Oregon State (11/27): Registered 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Ohio State (12/5): Led the way for Penn State in the Big Ten opener with a season-best 23 points...Shot 53.3% (8-15) from the field and 100% (5-5) from the free throw line...Thirteen of his game-high 23 points came in the second half as Penn State mounted a comeback attempt. Wagner (12/8): Tied for the team lead with 16 points…Dished four assists, including the 500th of his career. Indiana (1/2): Tallied a team-best 15 points in the win. at Northwestern (1/5): Chipped in 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in comeback road victory. No. 3 Purdue (1/8): Registered first double-double in a Penn State uniform with team-best 21 points and season-high 10 assists. Rutgers (1/11): Scored 15 points in dominant victory. Iowa (1/31): Had 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in double-overtime win. Minnesota (2/17): Went off for 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting while adding four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. at No. 20 Illinois (3/3): Stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds. vs. Minnesota – Big Ten Tournament (3/9): Scored a team-best 22 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. vs. Ohio State – Big Ten Tournament (3/10): Chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the postseason victory. vs. No. 9 Purdue – Big Ten Tournament (3/11): Had 16 points, six assists and four rebounds against the top-10 Boilermakers. 

BEFORE PENN STATE
2018-21 – AT SIENA
Was a three-time first-team All-MAAC selection…Named 2019-20 MAAC Player of the Year and 2018-19 MAAC Rookie of the Year…Averaged 15.0 points per game in three seasons with 60 career double-digit scoring games…Compiled 1,139 career points with the Saints and reached the 1,000-point mark in just 65 games…Averaged 6.1 assists per game for second-highest individual career average in program history.

AS A JUNIOR – 2020-21
Awards: Named to 2020-21 Lute Olson Award (top Division I player) and Lou Henson Award (top Division I mid-major player) Preseason Watch Lists.

Season: Played and started 14 games…Was second on team with average 36.0 minutes per game and 12.9 points per game…Dished off team-best 67 assists and led team with 16 blocks.

Rankings: Considered top-100 Division I player (No. 61 by HoopChain and No. 99 by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander) entering season…Led MAAC in assists per game (4.8) for third-straight season…Paced league with 2.21 assist-to-turnover ratio…Averaged 1.14 blocked shots per game, the fifth-highest average for a guard in Division I.

AS A SOPHOMORE – 2019-20
Awards: Named MAAC Player of the Year, only the second sophomore in league history to win award (Lionel Simmons – La Salle: 1987-88)…Selected unanimously to All-MAAC first team…Named to Lou Henson All-America Team…Earned NABC District 1 honors and was USBWA All-District II selection…Became first Siena player in 55 years to be named an All-ECAC first-team honoree (Jack Mulvey: 1965)…Was three-team MAAC Player of the Week recipient.

Season: Became only player in last quarter century to average at least 15 points (15/1), six assists (6.0), one block (1.1) and one steal (1.0) per game, according to Heat Check CBB…Scored in double figures 25 times, including six 20-point performances…Posted four double-doubles…Averaged 7.7 assists while achieving 3.97 assist-to-turnover ratio over final 15 games of season…Scored both the second-most points (959) and dished out second-most assists by any Siena player by end of their sophomore season in program history (Marc Brown: 1987-89 – 979 points, 421 assists).

Rankings: Ranked seventh nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.30), 20th in assists, and 21st in average minutes (36.9)…Was fourth in MAAC in scoring, sixth in blocks, and seventh in 3-pointers (58).

AS A FRESHMAN – 2018-19
Awards: Named MAAC Rookie of the Year by unanimous selection…Earned a spot on MAAC All-Rookie Team…Earned First Team All-MAAC honors, only the second freshman in league history to do so…Named CBS Sports/USBWA National Freshman of the Week (2/19)…Garnered a league-record 11 MAAC Rookie of the Week honors, also tied for second most overall in NCAA Division I history (12 – Jared Sullinger: Ohio State – Big Ten, 2010-11)…Considered one of 30 Division I finalists nationally for 2019 Kyle Macy Award, which is presented annually to top freshman in college basketball…Become first freshman in program history to be selected to NABC District 1 first team…Selected to MAAC All-Tournament Team…Named ECAC Rookie of the Year and second-team All-ECAC…Named 2018-19 Siena College Male Student-Athlete and Rookie of the Year.

Season: Set Siena freshman records for both scoring (521) and steals (66)…Achieved fourth-highest single-season assist total in school history with 221…Scored in double figures 26 times, highlighted by eight 20-point performances…Recorded five double-doubles…Erupted for 46 points, the second-highest single-game total in program history, and 13 assists vs. Quinnipiac (2/17) to become just the second player nationally this century with 45-plus points and 10-plus assists in a game…Swiped seven steals vs. Colgate (11/24), the most by a Saint since Clarence Jackson also had seven (1/4/10).

Rankings: Ranked ninth nationally and third amongst Division I freshmen in assists per game (6.7)…Stood 22nd nationally and fourth amongst Division I freshmen in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.76)…Was 35th nationally and fourth amongst Division I freshmen in steals per game (2.0)…Led MAAC in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio…Was second in league in steals, fourth in blocks (0.9), and seventh in scoring average (15.8).

HIGH SCHOOL
Matriculated to college following a postgraduate year at SPIRE Institute in Ohio…Averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game that year…Shot 38 percent from beyond the arc…Played senior season at Aquinas Institute…Averaged double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead team to Class AA Federation Final…Led Li’l Irish to NYSPHSAA Championship in 2016…Named NYSPHSAA Class AA MVP in 2016…Earned 2016 second team all-state honors…Starred locally on AAU circuit, playing four years with Albany City Rocks…Led EYBL with a 139.6 offensive efficiency in final season.

PERSONAL
Son of Gwendolyn Pickett…Has one brother, Annon Bennett...Majoring in broadcast journalism.