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Get to Know Florida State College at Jacksonville Men’s Basketball Commit, Amaree Pickens
Name: Amaree Pickens Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania High School: Cathedral Preparatory School (Cathedral Prep) High School Accolades: Four-year member of the Cathedral Prep Ramblers varsity basketball program, District 10 champion, all-region guard, and District 10 All-Star selection Post Graduate School: Lakeview Basketball Academy. The postgraduate school is located in Umatilla, Florida. Pickens spent the 2024-25 season with the Lakeview Lightning. “Attending preschool was a game-changer for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both on and off the court. Prep School have me the structure, discipline, and focus I needed to elevate my game and mature as a student- athlete. Surrounding myself with high-level competition daily sharpened my skills and gave me the drive to be the best version of myself.” Commitment: To play basketball for Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). The junior college is a member of the Florida state system and competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Manta Rays compete in the Mid-Florida Conference and in NJCAA’s Region 8. Why He Chose FSCJ: “I chose FSCJ because I saw it was the right environment to grow both as a player and a person. The program’s culture, coaching staff, and commitment to developing talent really stood out to me. I wanted to be a part of a team that values hard work, discipline, and accountability. FSCJ checked all those boxes.”
What Lakeview Basketball Academy and Cathedral Prep Mean to Him: “Prep and Lakeview both had the same morals, they both incorporated mind, body and spirit. Both of these programs encouraged me to be the best man I could possibly be and helped me prepare for the next level of college basketball and life.” Intended Major and Future Plans: Major in business and get into real estate after finishing up his education and basketball career. He also hopes to move on to the NAIA or NCAA level past his days playing junior college basketball. Favorite Basketball Memories: “Two of my favorite memories are my freshman year winning a PIAA state championship with some of the guys I’ve been playing with since middle school and the entire experience at Lakeview. It allowed me to experience time with great teammates and coaches while developing my skills as a player.” His Support System: Some of my biggest supporters are my mother and father. My mom always been there for me. She has been there for me in every aspect of my entire life. Her belief in me has never waiverd. As for my dad, I’m thankful for the sacrifices he has made to get me to this level. The thousands of miles late night drives has all been for me and my development. I also have to credit my older brother, Alfonso. My brother has been a great support system because he has always given me confidence. His halftime talks and pregame conversaions meant the world to me. Whether I had a bad first half or was feeling down, he always knew how to help me regroup. I also appreciate one of my mentors Coach Jeffress, he helped me come to a final decision in my college selection and gave me a lot of great advice. He broke things down to me and made decision making more practical.” Family Ties To College Basketball: Pickens older brother, Alfonso Pickens Jr. plays guard for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks. “It means a lot to me to be able to play at the next level like him because my brother and I have always been competitive. That competitiveness made me the player I am today. Hopefully at some point I’ll either be able to play with him or against him at the next level. That would be a dream come true and a huge honor.”
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