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

6. Trey McGowens – Pittsburgh to Nebraska

2019-20 stats: 11.5 ppg and 3.6 apg

There have been moments in McGowen’s first two seasons that he could be an elite scorer, with several games of 20+ points. But the 6’4 guard showed more of a facilitating role in the offense, doubling his assist numbers from freshman to sophomore campaigns. Yet playing alongside a more natural point guard in Xavier Johnson proved not to be a great fit in Pittsburgh.

So McGowens goes to a program in Nebraska that is filled with nothing but transfers, adding combo guard Kobe Webster and forward Trevor Lakes. There’s also Western Kentucky sit-out transfer Dalano Banton, who’ll also be vying for minutes as lead ball-handler. The Cornhuskers, who are looking to get out the very bottom of the Big Ten, needs a double-digit scorer and combo guard to boost the talent level of the team. Meanwhile, McGowens needs to get on the court and solidify himself as part of the rotation or risk being left out in 2021-22.

5. Reggie Chaney – Mississippi State to Houston

2019-20 stats: 4.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg

The past production of the former Bulldog bench player may not seem as if Chaney is “that” important. But that doesn’t show how much size the Cougars desperately needed after losing forward Fabian White Jr. for the season. Outside of incoming freshman Kiyron Powell, the team doesn’t have any eligible players bigger than 6’6 in the projected rotation. Losing leading rebounder and combo forward Nate Hinton to the draft was a tough blow as well.

Houston doesn’t need Chaney to become a 20 and 10 starting forward since their top guards are still coming back. But when given playing time, the 6’8 forward showed he can be a solid contributor. With teams such as Memphis SMU having plenty of size, having Chaney available for next season could truly be the difference between 1st and 3rd or 4th in the AAC next season.