For the second time under Head Coach Cuonzo Martin, the Missouri Tigers have added a player from the state of Illinois who had been released by the home-state Fighting Illini earlier this spring.
On Saturday, 6-foot-4 Javon Pickett of Belleville, Illinois announced, via Twitter, his commitment to the Tigers. Pickett recently graduated high school, averaging 25 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in his senior season. Before attending Mizzou and playing for the Tigers, Pickett is expected to play for one season at a yet-to-be-determined prep school. The Chicago Tribune made Pickett an all-Illinois third-team selection in the 2016-2017 season.
Pickett signed with the University of Illinois after his junior season, but requested his release from the Big 10 school after the firing of Head Coach John Groce. Upon his release, Pickett had received interest from many mid-major schools across the Midwest, including Saint Louis, Indiana State, and Drake, before Missouri’s interest peaked in recent weeks after a recent call to Pickett by Coach Martin.
Photo credit – Paul Kopsky / STLhighschoolsports.com / O’Fallon, MO
