Ardrey Kell coach Adam Hastings served as the Knights’ offensive coordinator in 2007, when Pickett was a freshman starter. Hastings said he knew right from the start that Pickett “was special.”

“I knew that just his attitude, it wasn’t typical for a freshman,” Hastings said. “A lot of freshmen in the spotlight are not quite prepared to compete, but he understood from the second he stepped on campus what he was there to do.”

After Pickett’s ninth-grade year, Hastings took the offensive coordinator job at nearby Providence Day School only to return to Ardrey Kell two seasons later as its head coach. Hastings watched film on Pickett from his sophomore and junior seasons, and was unsurprised at what he saw.

“He’s what I thought he would be,” Hastings said. “We do a lot offensively, [and] I asked him to line up [in the backfield and] at receiver. … He allowed me to take the team farther through his ability. That’s why he had the productivity he had. [He excelled with] the physical part and the mental part, preparing and knowing football and knowing the things that put him in position to help a team make plays.”

Pickett finished his senior season with 2,429 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns, helping the Knights to an 8-5 record and the second round of the North Carolina 4AA playoffs. The future Terp was named Offensive Player of the Year in the Southwestern 4A Conference.

Maryland wide receivers coach Lee Hull first expressed interest in Pickett as a sophomore, but it wasn’t until recently that the Terps ramped up their pursuit of him. When Randy Edsall was named coach, Pickett said the Maryland coaching staff identified him as a top remaining target on their recruiting board. Pickett quickly worked to set up his post-Signing Day official visit, which got “better and better” as he toured the campus, helping him decide that Maryland was the best fit.

“This whole process, we knew he was going to wait for the right opportunity. He just didn’t have the opportunity yet,” Hastings said. “He had a lot of offers, he was taking visits, [but] he was just waiting on the right opportunity. Maryland was just a great fit for him. Coach Edsall and those guys have proven they can win. I think he’s going to do great things at Maryland. I think the offense they’re going to transition to will be perfect for Justus.”

In College Park, Pickett will join a Terps squad looking to replace the production of departed starter Da’Rel Scott. Davin Meggett, D.J. Adams and Gary Douglas all return, while Pickett and fellow freshman Brandon Ross will join the competition. With his 4.32 speed, Pickett hopes to add an element of quickness to Maryland’s backfield.

“They said they’re going to kind of run a spread offense and they need some backs with versatility that can be used in the passing game as well,” Pickett said. “They really didn’t have [much] depth at the position.”

Transitioning from high school to college shouldn’t be a major issue for Pickett, whom Hastings called “the strongest kid in school” and someone who picks up the intricacies of football without difficulty.

“His future is bright,” Hastings said. “Looking at him, I always thought that whoever picks this kid up, two years from now is going to realize the gem that they have.”