LOUDONVILLE, NY – For the seventh time this season – and the fifth consecutive week – Siena Basketball freshman phenom Jalen Pickett has earned MAAC Rookie of the Week acclaim. Pickett's seven MAAC Rookie of the Week awards are the most by a league freshman since Schadrac Casimir of Iona received the honor eight times during the 2014-15 season.
 
Pickett now stands just one weekly honor shy of Siena legend Kenny Hasbrouck's program-record eight MAAC Rookie of the Week awards in 2005-06. The MAAC record for most Rookie of the Week awards is 10 by both Derek Needham of Fairfield in 2009-10 and Lionel Simmons of LaSalle in 1986-87.
 
Pickett averaged 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals, and 2.5 assists, while shooting 62% from the field in leading the Saints to a perfect 2-0 record last week. The Rochester, New York standout posted the fifth 20-point performance of his remarkable freshman season Thursday, tallying a game-high 20 points on 8-12 shooting while adding four rebounds, four steals, and three assists in a road victory at Fairfield. He capped his stellar week by scoring a game-high 18 points while chipping in five rebounds and four steals in a win over Manhattan Saturday.
 
Pickett currently leads the MAAC in both assists (6.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.67), which ranks 10^th and 40^th nationally, respectively. He also stands second in the MAAC (30^th nationally) in steals (2.2), eighth in scoring (15.3), and ninth in threes (40).
 
Pickett and the Saints commence a pivotal three games in five days stretch Thursday with a 7 p.m. matchup at Monmouth.