Recruiting Report: Anthony Picott (2017)
(Photo courtesy of NY2LA Sports) Throughout a prospect’s high school career, there’s always the dream and feeling of a big senior season, where the years of hard work pays off as you become the leader of the team. For Hampton…
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Throughout a prospect’s high school career, there’s always the dream and feeling of a big senior season, where the years of hard work pays off as you become the leader of the team.
For Hampton Roads Academy senior Anthony Picott, there was even more to look forward to. HRA upset their way to the TCIS Championship last season over the favorites of Norfolk Collegiate and Cape Henry, and with leading scorer Bryan Hart (Lincoln Memorial) graduating it would be his team going into his senior season.
The 6’3” wing looked like he was poised to be one of the breakout performers in the 757 this year, especially after a great April and May with Team Loaded 757. However, things didn’t work out the way he expected, as Picott tore his ACL in late May, meaning he was going to miss at least half of his senior season.
While the injury was frustrating, especially with all the lofty expectations on him, Picott remained optimistic and focused on getting back to help his team. He returned in January, giving HRA a much needed boost in scoring and leadership. One month later he reached the 1,000 point mark against rival Walsingham, an achievement that means a lot after everything he’s had to go through.
“It definitely was not an easy road,” Picott said about reaching the milestone. “Countless hours in rehab, the weight room and gym, it was an uphill battle to catch back up with my skills, fundamentals and mental aspect to achieve my goals.”
It’s never easy to watch your team from the sideline, but it wasn’t just the play he was missing out on. Picott’s play early in the summer caught the eye of a number of scholarship level schools, and with his injury he missed the chance to continue to increase his recruitment buzz. Even with the injury however, he lists Chowan, Clark Atlanta and Georgia Southwestern State as the schools who have reached out to him the most.
Now that he’s fully healthy and in the swing of things, Picott is focused on what he has to do to end the season on a positive note.
“My remaining goals are just to finish the season out strong, win the TCIS Conference again and keep my body at full health to play basketball at the next level,” Picott said.
With his ability to score the basketball in so many ways, and with his injury putting him somewhat under the radar, whoever lands Picott could get a steal and a productive four year player.