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Midseason additions to help Tar Heels, Huskies

by Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. He can be reached at GoodmanonFOX@aol.com or check out his blog, Good 'N Plenty.

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Updated: December 15, 2008, 10:31 PM EST
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Believe it or not, the top two teams in the country will both add significant pieces in the next couple of weeks. North Carolina and UConn won't be the only programs bringing in key players for the second half of the season.

There are plenty of quality additions throughout the country — and we'll give you a quick glance of those who will make an impact — led by Bruce Weber's early Christmas present.

Top 10 midseason additions

1. Alex Legion, Illinois: The smooth 6-foot-5 wing transferred in from Kentucky last year at the break and is expected to see his first action with the Illini on Dec. 20 against Detroit at home. He'll step onto the floor as Bruce Weber's most talented offensive player and should put up numbers immediately.

The return of junior forward Stanley Robinson should help UConn's chances of securing a Big East title. (Karl Walter / Getty Images)

2. Stanley Robinson, UConn: The former Huskies starter sat out the first semester with personal issues and was working at a sheet metal plant but is allowed to start practicing with the team on Sunday and will likely play his first game of the season Monday against Stony Brook. Robinson started 32 games last season and averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds, so he'll give a boost to a team already expected to win the Big East.

3. Marcus Ginyard, North Carolina: The Tar Heels' top defender has been out the entire season with a stress fracture but appears to be close to returning to the court. The 6-foot-5 senior could return to game action in the next week or two — and that'll be scary for opponents.

4. Laval Lucas-Perry, Michigan: John Beilein has already knocked off UCLA and Duke, and now he'll get LLP, a 6-foot-3 combo guard who left Arizona at the break a year ago, for the Dec. 20 game against Oakland at the Palace. The scary thing is that LLP comes in immediately as the Wolverines' third-best player and a guy who could start at the point before long.

5. Juan Fernandez, Temple: The talented point guard just finished high school in his native Argentina last week, and the Owls are hopeful he'll be in Philadelphia after Christmas and will be cleared by the NCAA to play shortly thereafter. He could make his college debut on Dec. 29 against Villanova. Fernandez played extremely well at the Under-18 Championships in Argentina this past summer.

6. Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt needs bodies, and Clinch is a guy who has experience and is also a proven scorer. Remember, this is a guy who was leading the team in scoring a couple years ago before he was suspended for academics. He missed the first semester this season due to academics but should come right in and get plenty of minutes when he is cleared — which should be any day now.

7. Tyree Evans, Kent State: The talented junior college transfer will give the Golden Flashes a much-needed lift when he becomes eligible to play on Dec. 18 against UNC Greensboro. He'll give Geno Ford another scoring option to go along with Al Fisher and Chris Singletary.

8. Mike Mercer and Gus Gilchrist, South Florida: Bulls coach Stan Heath just may be the happiest guy in America this time of year. He will get two key additions for Sunday's contest against Niagara. Mercer, a talented junior guard who averaged 12.2 points in his two-year career at Georgia, and Gilchrist, a talented 6-foot-10 big man who came from Maryland, should both be fixtures in the starting lineup.

9. Marcus Johnson, USC: Johnson is a big-time athlete who should see immediate playing time, especially with the departure of Marcus Simmons. Johnson, who will be eligible to play on Dec. 22, was a role guy at UConn for two years who wanted to get back closer to his home on the West Coast.

10. Louis Dale, Cornell: The Big Red's starting point guard, who has missed the first eight games of the season with a hamstring injury, returned and played 10 minutes in a loss to Minnesota earlier in the week.

Others to note

Jordan Bitzer, Central Michigan: The two-year starter is expected to regain academic eligibility on Dec. 17, and the junior gives the team shooting and also a cerebral defender.

Chris Early, Chattanooga: The 6-foot-8 power forward transferred from Oklahoma and will play his first game against Davidson on Saturday.

Mouhammed Faye, SMU: He's long and talented and could make a difference for the Mustangs.

Lawrence Gilbert, Louisiana-Monroe: The former Miami forward scored 14 points in his debut for Orlando Early's club against Louisiana Tech this past Wednesday.

Jacob Green, Fordham: The 6-foot-10 West Virginia transfer will help a struggling Fordham club when he returns on Dec. 23 against New Hampshire.

Trevon Harmon, Cleveland State: The freshman guard from California is a big-time athlete who can also shoot the ball. He joins a Vikings team capable of winning the Horizon.

Harry Marshall, Indiana State: The 6-foot junior guard started eight games last season and averaged in double figures but was academically ineligible for the first semester. He'll likely return Saturday against Purdue.

Sam Muldrow, South Carolina: The sophomore big man sat out the first part of the season due to academics and was expected to return on Tuesday against North Carolina Central, but now he's out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

Adrian Oliver, San Jose State: The 6-foot-4 sophomore wing transferred from Washington and should move right into the starting lineup when he becomes eligible on Dec. 20 against Northern Colorado.

Darrion Pellum, Hampton: The former Virginia Tech signee and talented wing will be eligible for the game against Virginia on Dec. 23.

Esmir Rizvic, Texas Tech: The Red Raiders senior was granted an extra semester by the NCAA and will give Pat Knight a defensive presence when he returns for the team's first Big 12 contest in January.

Lamar Roberson and Emmanuel Adeife, Louisiana-Lafayette: Both of them played at UNLV and both should help the Ragin' Cajuns right away.

Matt Simpkins, Memphis: The Tigers' freshman forward was recently cleared and has the potential to be a valuable contributor.

Mario Stula, DePaul: The 6-foot-7 Croatian wasn't allowed to play all of last season and also sat the first seven games this year due to overseas eligibility issues.

Marquis Young, Chicago State: The 6-foot-9, 270-pounder will make an impact immediately after transferring in from Ole Miss.

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