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. Â Pickett recently graduated high school, averaging 25 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in his senior season. Â Before attending Mizzou and playing for the Tigers, Pickett is expected to play for one season at a yet-to-be-determined prep school. Â 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. Â 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
