The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-2 senior post had led the Bengals to a 19-2 record and a berth in the Class AA state tournament quarterfinals at the time of her selection. Pickens averaged 17.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 2.4 blocks and 2.1 assists through 21 games. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she is the only four-star recruit in Montana and was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Pickens has maintained a 3.77 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Montana beginning this fall.
Also an All-State volleyball and softball player, Pickens has volunteered locally as part of fundraising campaigns to benefit both cancer and mental health research. She has also donated her time as an elementary school teacher’s aide and as a youth sports coach.
