The first couple weeks of waiver wire action always seems to be the most impactful long term to your team's chances of winning the league. College basketball has more roster turnover than any other sport thanks to the transfer portal and NIL. As a result, it's quite hard to predict exactly what kind of impact incoming transfers and recruits and going to have on any given team. These first few weeks are a learning process for everyone as we see the roles players are going to have for the season.
That being said, it's also important not to overreact too early either. While there are some high profile non-conference matchups early in the season, there's also a bunch of cupcake games for power conference teams in which coaches are usually trying to get more players minutes and take some away from the top fantasy players on the team.
We'll start the year off with this column looking at players, both in power and non-power conferences, who went largely overlooked during the draft process and have the opportunity to provide production for the long haul.
Power Conferences
Kiyan Anthony, G, Syracuse
It's no secret that this season could be defined by one of the best incoming freshman classes we have ever seen. Anthony was expected to have a moderate role in the Syracuse offense this year, but he might be forced into a much larger one with veteran J.J. Starling battling an injury. Anthony scored 15 points in his collegiate
The first couple weeks of waiver wire action always seems to be the most impactful long term to your team's chances of winning the league. College basketball has more roster turnover than any other sport thanks to the transfer portal and NIL. As a result, it's quite hard to predict exactly what kind of impact incoming transfers and recruits and going to have on any given team. These first few weeks are a learning process for everyone as we see the roles players are going to have for the season.
That being said, it's also important not to overreact too early either. While there are some high profile non-conference matchups early in the season, there's also a bunch of cupcake games for power conference teams in which coaches are usually trying to get more players minutes and take some away from the top fantasy players on the team.
We'll start the year off with this column looking at players, both in power and non-power conferences, who went largely overlooked during the draft process and have the opportunity to provide production for the long haul.
Power Conferences
Kiyan Anthony, G, Syracuse
It's no secret that this season could be defined by one of the best incoming freshman classes we have ever seen. Anthony was expected to have a moderate role in the Syracuse offense this year, but he might be forced into a much larger one with veteran J.J. Starling battling an injury. Anthony scored 15 points in his collegiate debut and 19 points in his first start the following game. The Orange will need his shot-making if they are going to be without their leading scorer for an extended period of time. His father Carmelo Anthony had a pretty sensational freshman season for Syracuse back in 2002-03 averaging 22.2 PPG en route to winning a National Championship.
Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
Despite being a five-star recruit, Thomas was a bit overlooked going into this season. A lot of that had to do with fellow Razorback freshman Darius Acuff, who has been extremely hyped up. Thomas, however, was the guy that really popped off the screen in the team's two exhibition games for Arkansas and then put in a mega stat line in the opener of 21 points (4-10 3Pt), seven assists, six rebounds and three assists. Thomas then followed with 16 points and six boards in a narrow loss at Michigan State. The 6-5 guard won't be coming off the bench for like if he's going to continue to produce like this. If he was passed up in your draft, Thomas should be one of the top waiver claims.
Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
Carr never got the chance to shine in two seasons with Tennessee, but coach Scott Drew is giving the former four-star recruit the chance to star with Baylor. He was a standout in the team's exhibitions and then posted a mega line in the regular season opener with 28 points (3-6 3Pt), five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. He followed that up by leading all scorers with 16 points in a quality win over a very underrated Washington team. Carr and five-star freshman Tounde Yessoufou are an extremely dangerous combination on the wing.
Amani Hansberry, F/C, Virginia Tech
Hansberry produced a pair of double-doubles in his first two games with Virginia Tech. The Hokies have been great offensively so far and it has resulted in a lot of fantasy relevant players. Hansberry was up-and-down last year with West Virginia, but when given the opportunity he typically took advantage of it. The 6-8 big man had four double-doubles last year as a part-time starter and also showed the ability to knock down the outside shot. Hansberry looks like an even better shooter this year and already has six steals+blocks to his credit.
Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
Okorie certainly didn't have the recognition that a lot of other incoming freshman this season had, but his play on the court through the first week has spoked loudly. The 6-2 guard put up 26 points, seven rebounds and two steals in his first game against Portland State, and then followed by dropping 29 points, four rebounds and four steals in the second game against Montana. Stanford has been plagued by some injuries early in the season, but this is a squad with not a lot in terms of proven commodities. Expect Okorie to be the man they lean on all season.
Brenen Lorient, F/C, West Virginia
Lorient had a big first week of production. He took advantage of West Virginia having three games in the first scoring cycle and proved something different in each game. In the first game he notched a double-double, in the second game he swatted five shots and in the third game he dropped a career-high 26 points along with nailing a trio of three-pointers. Lorient had never started a game prior to his senior season, but he looks to be someone that coach Ross Hodge can rely on to impact the game in a variety of ways.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, F/C, Minnesota
Crocker-Johnson has amassed 28 points and 30 rebounds over the first two games for Minnesota. He didn't have a great shooting performance in their most recent game, but also noticeably has a higher usage rate than fellow incoming transfer Cade Tyson, who is averaging 25.5 PPG. Crocker-Johnson shot over 35 percent from deep last year at Colorado State, and that will be just another way for him to make an impact this season with the Gophers once that part of his game comes around. Minnesota has a road game next week against Missouri that should tell a lot about Crocker-Johnson.
Justin Pippen, G, California
The former four-star recruit never got much of a chance to blossom as a freshman at Michigan, but it appears he's going to be a big-time contributor this year with Cal. Pippen went for 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds in the first game, then followed with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists in his second game. Cal is a team that could surprise people this year in the ACC and the 6-3 guard could have a similar do-it-all role that his older brother Scotty Pippen Jr. had a few years ago at Vanderbilt.
Riley Kugel, G, UCF
Kugel has been a nice complementary piece for the last three seasons at Florida and Mississippi State, but now a senior it appears he is set to be the focal point of an offensive attack. Kugel was the go-to-guy in the exhibition games and now appears to have carried that into the regular season highlighted by a 25-point effort against Vanderbilt. Kugel has gone 9-for-14 from deep over the first two games and should continue to let it fly all season. UCF has produced some underrated fantasy players over the last few years and Kugel seems next up to the party.
Sebastian Williams-Adams, F/C, Auburn
Williams-Adams was Auburn's highest rated freshman recruit from the 2025 cycle and he's wasted no time making an impact. He posted a 15/6/3 line on opening night and then got the start in game No. 2 and went for 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Williams-Adams is versatile enough to play either forward position and could see his value continue to rise if KeShawn Murphy's ankle injury keeps him out for a bit. Nevertheless, Auburn wants to play through the frontcourt and Williams-Adams is going to be a part of that in some way going forward.
Other Conferences
Chance Westry, G, UAB
It wasn't all that long ago that Westry was a top-50 recruit. Unfortunately, mutiple medical issues have slowed his career down. After stops at Auburn and Syracuse, Westry has found a new home at UAB and has showed out in the first two games. The 6-6 swing man is averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Andy Kennedy's up-tempo offense has also been quite fantasy friendly over the years. Expect Westry to finally achieve his full potential this season if he can stay healthy.
Nasir Meyer, G, Wyoming
Meyer was an unranked recruit coming out of high school this summer, but he has been a big surprise early for Wyoming. While Meyer has come off the bench in both games, he posted a 19/6/3 line in the opener then followed with a 18/5/4 line in the team's second game. Meyer has knocked down 6-of-10 shots from behind the arc so far. It won't be much longer before the 6-7 wing is starting given his usage rate is approaching 30 percent.
Will Heimbrodt, F/C, Seattle
Heimbrodt looks like a completely different player this season as a sophomore. The 6-7 forward has been getting after it on both ends of the floor through the first two games. Heimbrodt has scored at least 20 points in each of the first two contests and also blocked a total of seven shots. He's also knocked down 5-of-9 shots from deep. Seattle is looking to be competitive in Year 1 in the WCC and Heimbrodt will be a big key to that happening. Teammate Brayden Maldonado is also averaging 22.5 PPG.
Giovanni Emejuru, F/C, East Carolina
Emejuru has had an interesting route to get to this point. He was seldom used in two seasons at Sam Houston. Emejuru followed with a nice season at Siena in which he averaged 11.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG. He would transfer again to George Mason, but never started a game. Now in his last year of eligibility at East Carolina, Emejuru is looking like a force. He put up 17 points, nine boards and two blocks against Georgia Southern, and then posted 20 points, 13 boards and two blocks against Richmond. At 6-11 260 pounds, Emejuru will give teams fits in the AAC.
