Second semester eligibility = Impact players

One unique aspect of college basketball is that the sport covers both the fall and spring semesters. This means players that are ineligible for the first half of the season are often available in late December. Below is a look at the five biggest impact players who have recently joined their teams over the past month. MARCUS WILLIAMS - Connecticut (Guard) Williams led the Huskies in assists last season (7.3 apg), but was suspended the entire first semester for his involvement in a stolen laptop computer ring. Williams returned to action on January 3rd and the Huskies lost outright at Marquette, 94-79, as a 10-point road favorite. Connecticut has since gone 4-0 SU (2-2 ATS) with Williams in the lineup and he leads the team in assists (7.8 apg), is second in steals (1.8 spg), and is third in scoring (11.2 ppg). GARY NEAL - Towson State (Guard) Neal is a 6-4 guard that transferred from LaSalle and he made a huge debut on December 21st when Neal scored 28 points in a narrow 80-78 home loss versus VMI. Overall, Neal is averaging 25.8 points per game and has scored at least 25 points or more in five of his past six games. It appears that other Colonial Athletic Association teams are beginning to double-team Neal and he struggled in his last game versus N.C. Wilmington as Seal was just 1-12 FG and 0-8 from three-point range. Despite the blowout loss last Thursday, Towson is still a solid 5-2 SU/ATS over their past seven games. MOHAMED ABUKAR - San Diego State (Center) Abukar is originally from San Diego and transferred back home from the University of Florida last spring. He became eligible on December 27th and the Aztecs lost a difficult cross-country road trip at Providence, 80-65. San Diego State has since gone 5-1 SU and a perfect 6-0 ATS. Abukar is a 6-10 center and his talent was immediately evident as he scored 42 points in his first three games and is currently third on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (4.1 rpg). HASSAN FOFANA - Loyola-Maryland (Center) Foyana is a native of Africa and appeared in 28 games as a freshman for the Maryland Terps before transferring to Loyola last year. Foyana became eligible on December 23rd and the Greyhounds were blown out at Virginia, 98-59. Foyana made an immediate impact and scored 33 points in his first two games and Loyola was on a perfect 6-0 ATS run until they lost at Iona last Thursday. Overall, Foyana leads the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg) and he is third on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg). IJE NWANKWO - Cleveland State (Forward) This 6-7, 275 lbs power forward transferred from Purdue and had to sit out this first semester this season. Nwankwo became eligible on December 20th and played scored only four points in 13:00 minutes of action. Nwankwo has since broken out with 14+ points in four of his past seven games and overall he leads the team in blocks (0.9 bpg) and ranks third in scoring (10.0 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (4.4 rpg). Cleveland State has gone 3-1 SU/ATS their past four games with Nwankwo in the lineup, with all three wins coming outright as +3