Penn State men’s basketball is having one of its best seasons in recent history and leading the charge is senior Jalen Pickett.

The veteran guard was one of 20 college basketball stars to be named to the Wooden Award Late Season Watch List, as announced by Monday evening. The award is presented annually to collegiate basketball’s top player.

Wooden watch for @JalenPickett7

: https://t.co/ZNEBJU8QAi#WeAre pic.twitter.com/Eg7l6MgqqA

— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) January 30, 2023

Earlier this season, Pickett tallied Penn State’s second-ever triple-double against Butler and is currently the only player in the country to average 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game. If it holds, he would be the first player in 30 years to average that stat line.

Pickett has played some of his best basketball in conference play, averaging 19.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and six assists per game throughout conference matchups.

Although there’s still a month left in the season, Pickett has already rewritten the history books for the Nittany Lions. He is on pace to break the single-season assist record currently held by Tim Frazier. Pickett needs to average 4.7 assists per game throughout the next 11 games to break that record.

This isn’t Pickett’s first watch list of the season, either. He was added to the Oscar Robertson midseason watch list a little over a week ago.

The players on the Late Season Watch List are considered the favorites to land on the Wooden Award National Ballot, which consists of the 15 best players in college basketball. Voters will rank their top 10 from the pool of 15 when voting opens before the NCAA Tournament.

The Wooden All American Team will be announced during the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, with the winner of the 2023 Wooden Award being presented after the tournament in April.

Other Big Ten stars that join Pickett on the watch list include Zach Edey, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Kris Murray. Stars such as Armando Bacot, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Brandon Miller are also included on the list.