NCAA Basketball: 20 biggest pending waiver decisions for 2020-21 season

8. Blake Hinson – Ole Miss to Iowa State

2019-20 stats: 10.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg

The 6’7 wing has been an effective two-way starter for the Rebels, playing power forward at times as well. As just a 40% career shooter from the field (33% from three-point range), scoring isn’t Hinson’s focal point but simply his all-around ability and defense will make him a huge asset to the Cyclones if eligible.

Iowa State does have DePaul grad transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands for next season and leading scorer Prentiss Nixon is an All-Big 12 returning backcourt piece as well. With a solid frontcourt and backcourt, having Hinson around would be tremendous for the team in their efforts to get out of the bottom of the league.

7. Javon Freeman-Liberty – Valparaiso to DePaul

2019-20 stats: 19.0 ppg and 6.1 rpg

One of the best mid-major scorers last season, the 6’3 guard nearly carried Valpo to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. He scored in double figures in all but two games, including six games of at least 25 points. One of them was a career-high 32 points against Cincinnati. Freeman-Liberty was clearly a high volume shooter and scorer, with the percentages a bit low. But he showed that he’s willing to take… and make the tough shots needed to win.

DePaul is going to need that kind of scoring to pair with point guard Charlie Moore in the backcourt. The Blue Demons had added five transfers this offseason, with four of them graduates that already will play for next season. Yet none of them has the scoring ability that Freeman-Liberty possesses, and based on what happened in Big East play last season, they’ll need all the help that they can get.