College Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

Conference play has set in, and the by-products of that are tightened rotations and less attractive season-long waiver options. Unfortunately injuries do happen, and that will be a significant part of this column moving forward. Primarily, we'll be looking at short-term playing time boosts, aka streamers. Season-long teams are officially at the point of churning and looking for one-week fill-ins, though we'll still see the occasional late-season breakout here and there.

Power Conferences

Kameron McGusty, G, Miami

McGusty has returned from a three-game absence and saw 28 minutes off the bench. He figures to rejoin the starting rotation sooner than later, especially with Chris Lykes (ankle) still without a timetable for a return. He averaged 13.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 3.0 apg in three starts prior to his absence, similar to his numbers last year, and is well worth rostering as depth, if not more.

Kerwin Walton, G, North Carolina

Walton likely won't have appeal in deeper player pools, but in ACC-heavy formats, he should command attention. He's started two straight for the Heels, and provides them with one thing no other player in their rotation can: shooting. He's hit 7-of-12 three-pointers in his two starts (averaging 25 minutes) and is connecting at a 50.0 percent clip on the year. Inconsistent scoring is likely, and we know he won't provide anything peripherally, as the Heels front court will dominate on the boards. At least in roto leagues where 3-pointers are counted, Walton is rosterable.

Myles Johnson, C, Rutgers

Johnson's game logs are all over the place, but he's now started three straight for the Scarlet Knights, and is coming off of an impressive double-double against Iowa and Luka Garza. It's his third double-double of the year and fourth double-digit rebounding effort, and he's averaging 2.0 blocks to boot. So long as the minutes continue, and previous starting center Cliff Omoruyi (knee) remains sidelined, Johnson looks very usable.

Hakim Hart, F, Maryland

This has the look of a short-term streaming option. Hart is set to start in the absence of Darryl Morsell, who will miss time after fracturing a bone in his face. Hart is averaging 9.1 ppg as a reserve, but erupted for 32 against St. Peters earlier in the year as a starter. 

Jalen Bridges, F, West Virginia

Bridges garnered his first collegiate start over the weekend with Oscar Tshiebwe stepping away from the program and delivered a personal-best 19 points, adding three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Bridges is a former four-star recruit, and while he won't offer the same rebounding and block upside that Tshiebwe brought, he's well worth an add given the new-found role.

Kevin McCullar, G, Texas Tech

McCullar missed the team's first nine games, but dropped 11 points in 13 minutes upon his return. He wasn't nearly as effective in his second outing, but moved into the starting lineup and played 33 minutes, posting a diverse nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. The minutes alone make him worth consideration.

Makale Foreman, G, California

The well-traveled Foreman, formerly of Chattanooga and Stony Brook, looks like he's got an opportunity ahead of him. He's already averaging 10.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 2.5 apg off of the Bears' bench but could ascend into a starting role for at least the upcoming week, with Grant Anticevich (abdomen) already sidelined, and leading-scorer Matt Bradley leaving the team's last game with an ankle issue.

Azuolas Tubelis, F, Arizona

The freshman has now started four straight, averaging 9.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.0 spg across 26.0 minutes. Obviously not earth-shattering production, but the new-found role opens eyes, and Tubelis should only gain confidence assuming the minutes are the new norm.

Seventh Woods, G, South Carolina

This is a mere name drop, as the Gamecocks' rotation is in constant flux. If they continue to deal with absences, Woods can be a low-end, multi category contributor. He posted eight points, four boards and four assists in his most recent start, and that certainly plays in SEC-heavy formats.

Tier 2 Conferences

Justin Gorham, F, Houston

The Cougars are a maddening fantasy team. They're a top-5 squad that has a different lineup on a nightly basis, and it makes pegging anyone's potential a challenge. Gorham had an impressive 11 points and 19 rebounds Sunday, his third game with double-digit boards. He's started all of the Cougars games to date, and seems worth an add as the rotation is being forced to trim itself.

Brandon Rachal, G, Tulsa

Rachal averaged a usable 12.1 ppg and 5.8 rpg a year ago, so it's possible, if not probable, he was drafted in Tier 2 leagues. He had some rough patches earlier in the year and may have been cast off to the wire as a result, but he's coming off of a monster week that saw him average 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks against Houston and Cincinnati. He rebounds at an elite level for a guard, and shouldn't hurt you in the points column.

Mustapha Amzil, F, Dayton

Who is this guy? Amzil was so foreign a week ago, he wasn't even in our database. But injuries and opt outs have forced the Flyers to turn towards the Finnish freshman, and he's immediately impressed. Amzil debuted with a 22-point, seven-rebound line and followed it up with a 15-point, six-rebound, four-assist, three-steal showing. Most importantly, he's averaged 35.5 minutes. He's earned that time, but Dayton isn't in a spot to take away it either. He's a priority add even outside of Tier 2 formats. 

Joel Soriano, C, Fordham

Fordham is usually a fantasy wasteland, but Soriano is bucking that trend. He closes last season averaging 12.2 ppg and 13.0 rpg, and with the Rams now cleared to play, he's posted 14.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg and 2.0 bpg to start the year. This is elite Tier 2 production that's valuable across the board and boosted even more so by potential center eligibility.