North Buncombe softball ace Karlyn Pickens signs with Tennessee
WEAVERVILLE — One of WNC's best athletes finalized her college plans Monday, the first day of the early signing period.
North Buncombe softball ace Karlyn Pickens put pen to paper on her letter of intent to play with Tennessee, where she committed last fall.
"Tennesse has always had a special place in my heart. I kind of knew that's where I wanted to go to begin with," Pickens said. "Growing up, I went to a lot of their camps. So I knew it would be a good fit for me."
An All-American and WNC's first Gatorade State Player of the Year in softball, Pickens was 14-1 with a 0.41 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched during the spring season. She's ranked the No. 5 player in the 2022 class by Extra Innings Softball and accordingly had her pick of elite programs to make her next home.
But shortly after Tennessee approached, she had decided, and she never wavered.
"It's an SEC school, and I'd always dreamed of being in a school that big," Pickens said. "It's very family-based, and it's close to home. Tennessee just checked all the boxes."
Until recently, Pickens' recruitment likely would've dragged on for years. But a 2018 NCAA rule change prohibited college coaches from contacting recruits prior to September of their junior year.
That date came after the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, making for a strange recruiting cycle for Pickens and other class of 2022 players.
"When COVID hit, it was kind of a slap in the face," Pickens said. "But I knew I wanted to take my time and get a good understanding of the school I wanted to go to."
During the spring season, Pickens showed why she has her recruiting pedigree, leading the Black Hawks to an undefeated regular season against WMAC teams and a run to the 3A Regional Final.
This season, Pickens and North Buncombe will get to test themselves against a formidable nonconference schedule that should better prepare them for the postseason. But before then, Pickens will lead the Black Hawks basketball team, making the most of her high school experience as a three-sport athlete before heading to Knoxville.
"It's kind of shocking. [Signing] feels like the final thing, and I'm thankful for everyone who always supported me, my family coaches and school," Pickens said. "It's just a sigh of relief to think back of all the work I've put into it."
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: North Buncombe softball ace Karyln Pickens signs with Tennessee
