| Jim Picken | |
| Career Position: | Forward |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 10 |
| Weight Lb: | 165 |
| Birth Date: | 7 August 1903 |
| Birth Place: | East Liverpool, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High School: | Collingswood (Collingswood, New Jersey) |
| College: | Dartmouth (1924–1927) |
| Years1: | 1927–1928 |
| Team1: | Albany Senators |
| Years2: | 1927–1929 |
| Team2: | Hudson |
| Years3: | 1928–1929 |
| Team3: | Paterson Whirlwinds |
| Years4: | 1928–1930 |
| Team4: | Bristol Endees |
| Years5: | 1931–1932 |
| Team5: | Bridgeton Moose |
| Years6: | 1932–1933 |
| Team6: | Paterson Continentals |
| Years7: | 1932–1933 |
| Team7: | Bridgeton Gems |
| Years8: | 1932–1933 |
| Team8: | Philadelphia WPEN |
| Years9: | 1933–1934 |
| Team9: | Camden Brewers |
| Years10: | 1934–1935 |
| Team10: | Camden |
| Years11: | 1937–1938 |
| Team11: | Elizabeth |
| Cyears1: | 1927–1931 |
| Cteam1: | Troy HS |
| Cyears2: | 1931–1940 |
| Cteam2: | Audubon HS |
| Cyears3: | 1941–19?? |
| Cteam3: | Clifford Scott HS |
| Highlights: | As player:
|
James Edison Picken (August 7, 1903 – April 2, 1975) was an early American professional basketball and minor league baseball player.[1] [2] He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio but grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey.[2] Picken's basketball career during the 1920s and 1930s saw him spend time in the original American Basketball League, the Eastern Basketball League, and the Metropolitan Basketball League.[2] [3] His younger brother, Eddie Picken, was also a professional basketball player.[4] [5]
Picken attended Collingswood High School and then Dartmouth College, where he lettered in football, soccer, basketball, and baseball.[2] Immediately after college he played for the Easton Farmers in the Eastern Shore League during the 1927 season, but quit after one year.[2] He had only managed a .196 batting average in 51 at bats,[1] so he decided to focus on playing professional basketball as well as becoming a schoolteacher.[2] Over the years he coached high school football, basketball, and baseball at various high schools in New York and New Jersey.[2] While coaching Audubon High School's football team, he won three conference championships in nine years.[2]
A resident of Moorestown, New Jersey,[6] Picken died there on April 2, 1975.[2]