Former Illinois commit to Mizzou
Missouri had a big surprise on Saturday as the Tigers landed its second former Illinois commit in Javon Pickett. Pickett, out of Belleville East, originally signed with Illinois under John Groce but asked out of his letter of intent when Groce was fired.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard said he plans to reclassify to the 2018 class and go to a prep school starting this fall. He plans to find a prep school within "a week at the latest." He is Cuonzo Martin's second commitment for the 2018 class, joining Jontay Porter.
"It was just something my family and coaches we all just talked about," he told PowerMizzou.com. "We just thought it was the best place for me.”
A close friend of Tiger freshman Jeremiah Tilmon, Pickett said he spoke mostly to Martin after getting released from his letter of intent.
He said Missouri's top-10 recruiting class for 2017 showed him that Martin is determined to make the Tigers a national power again, which was one of the main reasons why he committed.
"Just to see what they're doing with the program now, what the new coaching staff is doing, they're trying to win," he told PowerMizzou.com. "Just to see what the new coaching staff is bringing in really encourages me."
Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals, Pickett said he models his game after St. Louis native Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, the son of Missouri great Melvin Booker.
He said he has a very well-rounded game but plans to put an emphasis on ball handling and his shooting range when he gets to prep school.
"I have an overall game," he said. "A lot of people say I can score but I can rebound and pass and make stops on defense."
Pickett said he took an unofficial visit to Missouri a few years ago when Kim Anderson was coaching the Tigers and plans to visit the campus again soon.
He said he was hanging out with E.J. Liddell earlier on Saturday and plans to start recruiting him to Missouri immediately. Liddell is a Belleville native like Pickett and a major target for the Tigers in the 2019 class.
"I'm going to get in his ear real soon," he said.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Pickett averaged 25 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists this past season at Belleville East.