The season is a third over and maybe your draft isn’t providing the return on investment that you expected. If you want to compete for your league title you may need to scan the waiver wire and see if there are players that can help you. Here are five under the radar players in the Pac 10 that are starting to make a name for themselves as we enter conference play that could make or break your season.
Kyle Cain, F, Arizona State
While he wasn’t the most hyped newcomer to arrive in Tempe this fall, he has had the most impact. The 6-foot-7 freshman has been cleaning the glass in the desert and is becoming a nightly double-double watch. He pulled down 17 rebounds against Houston Baptist in his third collegiate game and has been in the starting lineup ever since. He grabbed 16 rebounds against Long Beach State and is looking like the top freshman in the conference. If you need help on the boards, Cain could be your answer.
Josh Owens, F, Stanford
The 6-foot-8 junior missed all of last season with an unknown medical condition. The Cardinal were thought to only have one fantasy relevant player (Jeremy Green) but Owens is starting to make his presence felt. He had the best game of his career last night against Oklahoma State when he tied his career-highs with 21 points and ten rebounds. In his last four games, he is averaging 15.8 points and eight rebounds and in some leagues he is center eligible. If you need a big man, you could do much worse than Owens.
Joshua Smith, C, UCLA
The 6-foot-10 freshman has started to avoid foul trouble and it is showing in his production. In his last six games, he is averaging 12 points and 9.5 rebounds. He does have some blemishes (60% free throw shooter and only five blocks on the season) but the center position can be a virtual wasteland in BCS leagues so you have to live with the bad to get the good. Expect him to keep up the production once conference play starts as not many Pac 10 teams have the size to deal with him.
Jio Fontan, G, USC
The Fordham transfer finally made his debut last weekend. While he hasn’t had a huge impact statistically (14 points, three assists, and 1.5 steals in two games) he has had helped the Trojans take Kansas to the brink and led them to an upset over Tennessee on the road. By the end of the season, he will be one of the best backcourt players in the conference and could lead the Trojans back to the Big Dance.
Abdul Gaddy, G, Washington
Last year Gaddy was a giant fantasy disappointment after many thought he was the top incoming freshman in the conference. This year he is starting to show why so many people were excited about him. He is shooting 16% better from the floor, 33% better from three-point land, and 33% better from the charity stripe compared to last year. His overall stats still may not blow your socks off (10.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds) but a lot of that has to do with the depth in the backcourt. If you need assists, check out Gaddy.