Each season, the culmination of the Outside the Huddle Top 50 player countdown is the naming of our annual First Five, the highest preseason honor for OTH basketball coverage.
The First Five traces its lineage back to The News-Sentinel’s years of presenting “Fabulous Five” teams of the area’s best five players in both boys and girls basketball. This player is part of our seventh season of naming First Five players.
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No. 1 – Kellen Pickett, Blackhawk Christian
Wright State commit Kellen Pickett has established himself as a dominant force for Blackhawk Christian, leading the Braves to a memorable season capped by a hard-fought overtime loss in the semistate night game. Averaging 20.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game, Pickett was one of just four area players to average a double-double, while posting the highest rebounding and blocked shot averages in Northeast Indiana. His exceptional performances earned him Indiana Junior All-Star honors and solidified his reputation as one of the premier players in the state. With a combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ, Pickett has been a cornerstone for the Braves and has fans eagerly anticipating how much more he can elevate his game during his senior year.
Pickett’s offensive versatility is a hallmark of his game. He excels with the ball in his hands, making smart decisions on whether to post up, drive to the rim, or showcase his impressive perimeter shooting with a smooth, high release. Defensively, he is equally impactful, using his length and athleticism to guard all five positions on the floor—an invaluable asset in high school basketball. His ability to anchor the defense while also facilitating and scoring efficiently on offense makes him a complete player and a nightmare matchup for opponents.
COACH’S QUOTE ON PICKETT
“Kellen is an outstanding young man and very talented basketball player. He led us last year well through a lot of adversity which has led to him growing more as a leader for our program. He has had a great offseason and is hungry to get back to work for his Senior season.” – Blackhawk Christian coach Matt Roth
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