College Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

College Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

This article is part of our College Basketball Waiver Wire series.

Another quiet week across the nation with regards to injuries, but we do have some speculative adds this week that can help those in conference-specific formats, paired with a few rotational changes creating some new/better opportunities.

Power Conferences

John Hugley, C, Pittsburgh

This column has continued to churn out center options, something that hasn't been normal in prior seasons. As such, there's no excuse for that position to be a black hole in your lineups. Hugley has been a nice development for the Panthers. He's posted three 20-plus point outings and three double-doubles while seeing at least 30 minutes in each of the last three games. He doesn't block any shots, but he's Pitt's most consistent producer and well worth a roster spot.

Prentiss Hubb, G, Notre Dame

I simply refuse to believe Hubb will be this bad all season. He's never been an efficient shooter/scorer, so maybe the coaches feel he's more a detriment, but the Irish don't have many other options. He's quietly been in double-digits in points in three of four, with the one down tick being a scoreless outing against Illinois. It just seems like a good buy-low opportunity right now, as we have to think minutes, assists and in turn points will be there come season's end.

James Karnik, C, Boston College

Another center! Karnik has put up double-doubles in two of the Eagles' last four games while scoring in double digits three times in that span after failing to do so

Another quiet week across the nation with regards to injuries, but we do have some speculative adds this week that can help those in conference-specific formats, paired with a few rotational changes creating some new/better opportunities.

Power Conferences

John Hugley, C, Pittsburgh

This column has continued to churn out center options, something that hasn't been normal in prior seasons. As such, there's no excuse for that position to be a black hole in your lineups. Hugley has been a nice development for the Panthers. He's posted three 20-plus point outings and three double-doubles while seeing at least 30 minutes in each of the last three games. He doesn't block any shots, but he's Pitt's most consistent producer and well worth a roster spot.

Prentiss Hubb, G, Notre Dame

I simply refuse to believe Hubb will be this bad all season. He's never been an efficient shooter/scorer, so maybe the coaches feel he's more a detriment, but the Irish don't have many other options. He's quietly been in double-digits in points in three of four, with the one down tick being a scoreless outing against Illinois. It just seems like a good buy-low opportunity right now, as we have to think minutes, assists and in turn points will be there come season's end.

James Karnik, C, Boston College

Another center! Karnik has put up double-doubles in two of the Eagles' last four games while scoring in double digits three times in that span after failing to do so in the team's first five games. His production/playing time obviously mirror his ability to stay out of foul trouble, so it's an encouraging sign for future consistency that Karnik hasn't been whistled in the last two games.

Jalen Pickett, G, Penn State

The Siena transfer seems to be warming to his new surroundings of late. Minutes have never been an issue, as Pickett's season-low has been 32. But he didn't reach double-digit points in any of the Nittany Lions' first three games. That's changed of late however, as he's averaging 14.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 4.6 apg across his last five. Assuming that maintains, Pickett fits in all lineups regardless of format.

Boo Buie, G, Northwestern

Buie seems like an annual resident in this column. He's flashed with fantasy potential over the past two seasons, but never showed consistency. Buie seems to have sorted that out as a junior, as he's scored in double-digits in every contest to date, averaging a robust 14.3 shot attempts nightly. Pair that with 6.0 assists nightly, and there's clear appeal that would be further boosted if he could up his defense. Buie notched five steals in the Wildcats' opener, but has only three in seven games since.

Jalen Hill, F, Oklahoma

Hill is in a weird space in that his production isn't huge or consistent enough to merit starting in your lineups nightly, but he flashes enough that he shouldn't be on wires either. He's scored in double-digits four times to date while grabbing 10+ boards twice. He's seeing ample minutes, 30+ in three of four, and as the Sooners trim their rotation as we head into league play, the hope is Hill finds some consistency thanks to continued run.

Dylan Addae-Wusu, St. John's

When Addae-Wusu starts, he produces in nearly all categories. So hopefully Sunday's start, his second of the year, is going to become the norm. He put up 11 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and four steals in that outing after going for 10 points, seven boards, four assists and four steals in a previous opportunity. He did commit five fouls against Kansas in just 26 minutes, so growing pains remain, but there's fantasy stardom potential here.

Myles Cale, G, Seton Hall

This is mainly a notice that Cale is back from a three-game absence due to a groin issue, and can be added where dropped previously. He's not a huge fantasy contributor, but has reached double-digit points in three of his five games to date, and has some potential to provide a couple of steals nighty.

Chevez Goodwin, F, USC

Goodwin isn't a huge minutes guy, playing just 22.6 nightly, but he's incredibly efficient. He's averaging 12.4 points and 7.1 boards on the year, shooting an incredible 63.9 percent. That gives him more appeal where percentages matter, but Goodwin doesn't seem like a liability in lineups either as a steady two-category guy.

Andre Kelly, F, California

Kelly is coming off of a poor, four-point, eight-board game where he fouled out in 28 minutes against Utah. As such, it's worth checking to make sure he's not sitting on your wire, as he's taken a nice leap overall as a senior. The hulking 255 pounder is averaging a cool 15.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg, posting four double-doubles on the year. The scoring could ebb and flow, but the rebounding looks steady.

Jaylin Williams, F, Auburn

Williams hasn't been a big producer, but looks like he could be in line for some additional minutes moving forward, as Walker Kessler could miss an extended period due to a knee issue. He's not capable of providing the blocks Kessler was putting up, but there should be minutes to allow him to improve on the 7.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg he's currently producing.

Tier 2

Earl Timberlake, F, Memphis

The Tigers are ridiculously deep, so steady production is no sure thing. But Timberlake is amongst the most talented of Penny Hardaway's options, and he earned his first start of the season over the weekend. It yielded 11 points and five boards in 24 minutes, all season highs. The production may not equal the talent, making Timberlake a depth add mostly, but he's simply too good to not be on rosters.

Trey Pulliam, G, San Diego State

Pulliam has started every game of the year for the Aztecs but has been maddeningly inconsistent. But with Lamont Butler now sidelined by a broken hand, Pulliam figures to have the ball in his hands often. It equated to only seven points, five boards, two assists and two steals against Michigan over the weekend, but Pulliam did see 37 minutes. He'll likely be better against a lesser opponent.

Tyson Degenhart, G/F, Boise State

Degenhard entered the Broncos' starting lineup last week, playing  34 and 37 minutes in two contests after seeing only 46 total minutes in his first six outings. He responded by averaging 11.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg, and the freshman should only gain confidence moving forward.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Bennett
Bennett covers baseball, college football and college basketball for RotoWire. Before turning to fantasy writing, he worked in scouting/player development for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. He's also a fan of the ACC.
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