Denver Nuggets Select Penn State's Jalen Pickett in NBA Draft

The defending NBA champs, led by former Penn State star Calvin Booth, make Pickett a second-round pick.

Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today Sports

Jalen Pickett, who produced one of the finest individual seasons in Penn State basketball history, became the program's highest-drafted NBA player since 1965. And a former Penn State star made the pick.

The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets selected Pickett in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft with the 32nd overall pick. Pickett is Penn State's highest-drafted player since Bob Weiss went to Philadelphia in 1965 as the 22nd overall pick. Fittingly, former Penn State star Calvin Booth (a second-round pick himself in 1999) found a way to bring Pickett to Denver as the team's general manager. Even more fittingly, Booth and Pickett are the only Penn State players to record triple-doubles. Pickett (15 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) recorded his against Butler in November; Booth (19-10-10) had his against Dayton in the 1998 NIT Tournament.

Pickett concluded an epic season for the Lions as the program's first player to be named a first-team All-American since 1955. He was the first Penn State player named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and made three other All-America teams. Pickett led Penn State to the Big Ten championship game, its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2011 and its first tournament win since 2001. Pickett was the nation's only player to average 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game.

ON ESPN's draft broadcast, analyst Jay Bilas called Pickett a "facilitator" who can make an NBA impact.

"He's got a great knowledge of how to play," Bilas said. "... He makes other people around him better, scores and rebounds, but I think the best attribute he has is as a passer."

Sports Illustrated's scouting report of Pickett emphasizes his experience (which includes three seasons at Siena) and team-building skill. However, Pickett needed to find the right system in which to thrive, according to SI.

"Pickett is one of those unorthodox players that actually makes it quite difficult to project his fit at the next level," SI writes. "He has plenty of translatable skills, but it will be interesting to see how exactly he impacts the NBA game. His natural feel for the game is impressive, so he should find his place as a role player in the right system. It will take a team that’s really willing to use his unorthodox strengths."

Pickett is the 14th player in Penn State history to be selected in the NBA Draft.

.@JalenPickett7 to the defending @NBA Champion @nuggets‼️#WeAre | #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/8qqn1oZ4Vk

— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) June 23, 2023

Penn State NBA Draft History

1947: John Rusinko (Round 3, Baltimore)

1953: Herman Slezdik (Round 7, Baltimore)

1955: Jesse Arnelle (Round 2, Fort Wayne Pistons)

1961: Peter Baltic (Round 9, Detroit)

1965: Bob Weiss (Round 3, Philadelphia)

1966: Carver Clinton (Round 11, Philadelphia)

1967: Paul Mickey (Round 14, Washington)

1974: Ron Brown (Round 7, Boston)

1981: Frank Brickowski (Round 3, New York)

1983: Mike Lang (Round 8, New York)

1984: Dick Mumma (Round 10, San Diego)

1999: Calvin Booth (Washington, Round 2)

2018: Tony Carr (New Orleans, Round 2)

2023: Jalen Pickett (Denver, Round 2)

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.