This article is part of our College Basketball Waiver Wire series.
This is a condensed week for college basketball with no games schedule to be played Wednesday through Friday, and even then many teams are completely off this week. That means this would be a good time to really try and find some solid long-term options who have shown upside in recent weeks. Conference play will start for everyone next week and then the schedule for fantasy gets a lot more predictable. With that, let's take a look at some players on the rise across several different conferences.
Fantasy College Basketball Waiver Wire: Top Adds This Week
For additional help on college basketball waiver wire recommendations, head to our college basketball player rankings to settle Player A vs. Player B dilemmas, as well as our college basketball injury report to see which backups may be in line for an expanded role.
Power Conferences
Lamar Washington, G, Georgia Tech (Fantrax Ownership: 9%)
Washington has been the beneficiary of Jaeden Mustaf's injury. Washington is now the lead guard for the Yellow Jackets and has started the last three games, averaging 18.0 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers over that stretch. That also includes double-doubles in each of his last two games. Even when Mustaf is healthy enough to return to the court it's hard to see Washington's role diminishing giving what he is showing on the floor.
Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois (9%)
Illinois is a team loaded with talent, but Wagler has
This is a condensed week for college basketball with no games schedule to be played Wednesday through Friday, and even then many teams are completely off this week. That means this would be a good time to really try and find some solid long-term options who have shown upside in recent weeks. Conference play will start for everyone next week and then the schedule for fantasy gets a lot more predictable. With that, let's take a look at some players on the rise across several different conferences.
Fantasy College Basketball Waiver Wire: Top Adds This Week
For additional help on college basketball waiver wire recommendations, head to our college basketball player rankings to settle Player A vs. Player B dilemmas, as well as our college basketball injury report to see which backups may be in line for an expanded role.
Power Conferences
Lamar Washington, G, Georgia Tech (Fantrax Ownership: 9%)
Washington has been the beneficiary of Jaeden Mustaf's injury. Washington is now the lead guard for the Yellow Jackets and has started the last three games, averaging 18.0 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers over that stretch. That also includes double-doubles in each of his last two games. Even when Mustaf is healthy enough to return to the court it's hard to see Washington's role diminishing giving what he is showing on the floor.
Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois (9%)
Illinois is a team loaded with talent, but Wagler has emerged as a go-to player for them of late. Over the last three games, the freshman out of Shawnee, Kansas is putting up 19.3 points, 6.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 three-pointers. Wagler even notched his first double-double last time out against Nebraska. Illinois will have two more non-conference games against Missouri and Southern.
Ven-Allen Lubin, F/C, North Carolina State (7%)
Lubin is on his fourth school in as many years and having his best season to date. The 6-9 big man is averaging 14.7 points and 7.6 rebounds over his last 10 games while shooting over 67 percent from the field. Lubin has had at least 11 points and nine rebound in six over those contests. Will Wade runs a very fantasy friendly system and Lubin has been the beneficiary of that. The Wolfpack will start ACC play against Wake Forest on Dec. 31.
Jaylin Sellers, G, Providence (3%)
Sellers was one of the best scoring guards in the Big 12 two years ago at UCF. Last season he only played in three games due to injury. Safe to say he is back to his old self this season as he is averaging 16.1 PPG on the campaign. He's putting up 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 three-pointers over his last six games while shooting an insane 67 percent from deep. Providence has been involved in a ton of shootouts this year, which bodes well for Sellers' fantasy value.
Freddie Dilione, G, Penn State (1%)
Dilione has really come on of late, as he is putting up 19.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 three-pointers over his last four games. Dilione is the second-leading scorer on the season for Penn State at 14.2 PPG, and what makes that even more impressive is the fact that he hasn't started a single game. Dilione should be in the conversation for Sixth Man of the Year by season's end.
Aiden Sherrell, F/C, Alabama (4%)
Sherrell is one of the most fearsome rim protectors in the country at 3.1 BPG. While the shot-blocking has certainly been his best attribute, the big man is also averaging 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds over the past eight games. Sherrell is coming off a career-high 21 points last time out against Kennesaw State, and given the pace this team plays at, there is optimism the offense can continue to improve. The Crimson Tide will close out the non-conference slate against Yale.
Blake Buchanan, F/C, Iowa State (2%)
Iowa State is looking like a serious title contender at 12-0 and a big reason for that has been the play of the Virginia transfer. Buchanan is averaging 9.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals on the campaign and been a nice complement to Joshua Jefferson. Buchanan has turned it up the last few weeks at 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 assists over the last four games. Iowa State faces Houston Christian before they start Big 12 play on Jan. 2 with West Virginia.
Shelton Henderson, F/C, Miami (9%)
Henderson has started to really come into his own in his freshman campaign, as he is putting up 17.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals over the last five games. That includes a 30-point explosion on Dec. 16 against FIU as well. The 6-6 240-pounder gives Miami a lot of options to play him either on the perimeter or the interior. Henderson compliments all of the talent the Hurricanes have in the frontcourt.
Other Conferences
BJ Davis, G, San Diego State
Apart from a dud at the start of the season and his most recent game, Davis has been quite the scorer off the bench for the Aztecs. He had a seven-game stretch where he averaged 15.9 PPG while also hitting 1.9 treys per game at a 54-percent clip. Davis also added 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals during that stretch in only 22.3 MPG. He's been the go-to player offensively over both Miles Byrd and Reese Dixon-Waters, which not many would have guessed.
Makaih Williams, G, Grand Canyon
Another player who seems to be thriving in a sixth-man role is Williams. He actually started six games earlier this season, but has come off the bench in the last three and taken off. Williams is putting up 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 three-pointers since returning to the bench. Williams should be able to shred IUPUI on Monday in the team's final non-conference game.
Trey Green, G, Saint Louis
Green has had at least 20 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. Over that stretch he is averaging 14.8 points, 3.5 three-pointers, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals. Green is one of the most dangerous shooters in the A-10 and he's getting a lot of volume with Saint Louis ranking 13th in adjusted tempo per KenPom. The 11-1 Billikens are a team to watch heading into conference play.
Jalen Smith, G, Rice
After making 35 starts over three seasons at SMU, Smith followed coach Rob Lanier over to Rice and is having his best campaign to date. Smith has been especially strong over the last few weeks, putting up 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 three-pointers over his last five games. That comes while also shooting 53 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown over that stretch.
