College Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

Week 2 of the season didn't provide a ton of injuries (thankfully) or dramatic role changes. That's great for lineup stability but bad for this column and/or trimming some of the fat off the back end of your bench after some draft day speculation. But at worst, there are some emerging bigs included here that could provide some roster depth or occasional weekly plug ins.

Power Conferences

P.J. Hall, F, Clemson

Hall is a player I targeted in the later rounds of a startup ACC/SEC dynasty draft a few weeks ago, and the returns look terrific early on. He's a former top-50 recruit who struggled to get on the floor last year behind a veteran front line, but with Clemson in a rebuild, Hall is seeing opportunity as a sophomore and showing promise. After a six-point season debut, he's scored in double-digits every time out, twice posting 22 point, eight board lines. Clemson had a busy week, playing four games, so hopefully you're in a weekly add spot where Hall was ignored a week ago.

Kadin Shedrick, C, Virginia

Shedrick isn't going to be confused with Jay Huff, but he's looking useful and likely has center eligibility. He's scored in double-digits twice in four outings, no small accomplishment in this offense, all while pulling in five boards or better three times. Not huge successes, but given the position you could do worse. And Shedrick's size is proving to be solid in rim protection, swatting three or more shots three times in four starts.

Marcus Bingham, F/C, Michigan State

I'm honestly not sure what to make of Bingham. He's producing at a rate where he needs to be rostered, but he's also not playing a ton of minutes and doesn't have a prior history of success. At 7-foot, 2.0 blocks seems sustainable (down from his current 3.5), and 8.3 rebounds in 21 minutes is a terrific rate. He's scored in double-digits in all of Sparty's four games, and that's where I struggle. If that's sustained, he's appealing regardless of format. If it fades because the minutes aren't huge, he's a defensive specialist.

E.J. Stephens, G/F, Minnesota

I have reservations here as well once the Gophers get into the meat of their conference schedule, but we aren't there yet. The Lafayette transfer is seeing oodles of minutes, and that leads to production by default. Stephens is averaging 36.3 minutes through four outings, resulting in a usable 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 spg and 1.5 apg. Not spectacular, but a stable bench piece at worst.

Zach Freemantle, F/C, Xavier

What makes writing this column so fun and challenging simultaneously is guessing league formats and roster percentages. If your league features the Big East heavily, Freemantle isn't a free agent and you're patient in his injury rehab. If you're in a nation-wide league that's been playing for 2+ weeks, you may not have roster space to stash this talent. In that instance, this is a preemptive strike. Freemantle is expected back as early as next week, and immediately brings double-double potential to your lineup.

LJ Cryer, G, Baylor

Cryer's play far exceeded his opportunities prior to Saturday, when he drew his first start. He had played 24 minutes or less in the Bears' first three games, averaging 17.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in just 22.7 minutes. That doesn't seem sustainable on a deep team like Baylor, but it's also too good to be sitting on the wire. It's not anticipated that Adam Flager's hand injury is a long-term issue, so Cryer likely returns to a reserve role sooner than later, but we can see he's lightning in a bottle.

Jabari Walker, F, Colorado

Walker has seen his opportunity double as a sophomore, and his statistics have almost identically followed. He played 14.1 minutes a season ago, putting up 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists, and is now at 28.8 minutes, 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists nightly. Teammate Keeshawn Barthelemy is also enjoying a breakout start to the season, but I prefer Walker's scoring and rebounding to Barthelemy's primarily just point production. 

Dashawn Davis, G, Oregon State

Davis saw only 42 minutes in the Beavers first two games and then sat out due to a groin injury. Since that one-game absence, he's averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steal, playing 32.0 minutes and taking 14.5 shots. That seems unsustainable in conference play, but we aren't there yet. Davis looks like a nice streamer, at worst, as the Beavers' non-conference schedule progresses.

Aaron Cook, G, Georgia

Hopefully we/you aren't one week late to the party here on Cook. UGA is a bad basketball team, but that leaves Cook with ample minutes and forced production. He has at least six assists in all four outings, averaging 7.8 overall. Add that to 15.0 points and 1.5 steals, and the sixth-year senior plays in all formats.

Tolu Smith, F/C, Mississippi State

Smith has yet to play this season while recovering from September foot surgery, but has progressed to full court practices and should return to action in early-December. It's probable he's eased into action initially and may not even be back at full capacity until January, so this is a preemptive strike in a quiet week for the wire. Smith averaged a very serviceable 12.6 points and 8.5 boards a year ago.

Tier 2

Terrence Hargrove, G/F, St. Louis

Hargrove saw limited run in the Billikens' first three games, as they played weak competition and deployed a deeper rotation. He was in the thick of things this past week, however, giving us a look we were so familiar with from former St. Louis guard Jordan Goodwin. Hargrove put up double-doubles in both games last week and is averaging seven boards and a block on the year, working primarily at the wings. That's borderline elite for the backcourt, where guard-eligible. With Javonte Perkins out for the year, St. Louis has four double-digit scores in the early going, but Hargrove has been the most diverse statistically.

Davonte Gaines, G, George Mason

There's a lot going on with the Patriots, as two of their top three scorers are power conference transfers, with D'Shawn Schwartz coming from Colorado and Gaines from Tennessee. Gaines gets the nod here for me, though both are certainly rosterable. Gaines is similar to Hargrove above in that he's an elite rebounder as a guard, averaging 8.8 through four games. Schwartz has a higher scoring potential, so pick your poison based on need. 

Jaelen House/KJ Jenkins, G, New Mexico

House was off to a great start, averaging 23.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.0 rebounds in the Lobos first three contests after putting up just 5.3 ppg, 1.5 apg, 1.6 spg and 2.0 rpg as a sophomore. Clearly in the midst of a breakout, he is a priority Tier 2 target. But he left Sunday's game against Montana State due to an ankle injury, and his immediate status is unknown. Enter Jenkins, who pumped in 17 points, three assists and three rebounds with House sidelined. Hopefully the ankle injury isn't serious, and we gain clarity Monday against Western New Mexico. But given the lack of a quality opponent, it's possible to probable House is rested for the short term, making him a fine stash and Jenkins a potential one-week streamer.