With offers beginning to pour in for the talented wing prospect, Pinnacle High School's 6-foot-4, 185-pound junior Dorian Pickens, has received his biggest offer to date.
This week, after having a big spring and summer for himself while playing for the Arizona Stars, Pickens reeled in an offer from the University of Arizona and head coach Sean Miller.
"I was definitely happy about it," Pickens told GOAZCATS.com. Pickens went on to also say, "I really have no leeway toward any school right now."
Pickens also currently holds offers from Arizona State, Weber State, Northern Arizona, Boston College and Rice - a list that will continue to grow a great deal over the next year. He is also receiving strong interest from many college programs, including such program as St. Mary’s, Colorado State, Drake, California, USC, Indiana, UTEP, Washington, Oregon, San Francisco, Houston, Colorado, North Carolina, Syracuse, Washington State, Oregon State, Boise State, Montana, Harvard, Eastern Washington, Cornell and Nevada.
Pickens stated that he is in no rush to make a decision, and that he will take his time during the recruiting process.
Very few players had as good a performance this spring and summer as Pickens. In fact, very few players in his class on the West Coast had as good a performance. Pickens' play this spring was good enough to garner him attention from many college programs across the country, and also allow him to receive much national attention from scouts and media.
With Arizona's 2014 class of boys prospects looking to become the state's top class of prospects ever, Pickens' recent national attention has only made the class much stronger.
As a mere freshman, Pickens helped lead his Pinnacle Pioneers to a 5A Division-II semi-final finish and a #1 ranking in the division for much of the high school season. Pinnacle would finish with an impressive 24-5 record on the season and win the 5A's Desert Valley Region in the process. Pickens would average 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per/game - very good numbers for a freshman starter on a well-balanced team.
Last season as a sophomore, Pickens helped his team to a #1 state ranking in the Division-I, Section-III Class for much of the season, as the team finished with a strong 30-4 overall record on the season, before suffering a big upset defeat in the Division-I state semi-finals. Pickens would pour in 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per/game on the state's most well-balanced and talented team.
Pickens will look to return to Pinnacle HS this season, returning to the school after a serious off-season performance - one that has him now among the top players at his position in the country.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Pickens is a versatile wing prospect with a good overall feel for the game. He has a good fundamental approach to the game and is excellent offensively, as he possesses a soft shooting stroke with range and a good handle of the basketball. He is capable of playing either the small forward or the shooting guard positions on the floor currently, and is also strong enough off the dribble to play the point position. Pickens is also able to play either as the main scoring threat on a team, or is able to co-exist with other top performers - his best attribute. He does so many things well that he is able to play alongside others in either capacity, while making other players better. Pickens is a good defender with good lateral quickness, and has quick hands - plays passing lanes. He focuses much more these days on the offensive end than he does defensively, so a defensive mindset will benefit him a great deal as he heads to a top college program. He is a very good ball handler and passer already and should only improve his skillsets as he gains more maturity. Pickens also has very good playmaking skills already, as a result of his advanced feel for the game. Very good early and physically mature for his age. An excellent prospect that should be able to play at any level of college program.
