2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where NCAA's Top Freshman Stars Will Land

Every since the NBA raised the age minimum for incoming players, one-and-done freshman athletes have dominated the draft. The 2012 NBA draft will not be different.

Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond headline a deep draft class that is highlighted by freshmen and big men. This year's lottery teams will be well-rewarded for their ineptitude in this draft.

Here's an early prediction at how the draft will shake out.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Right now, Anthony Davis appears to be the consensus No. 1 pick. The 18-year-old is 6'10" tall and has a 7'4" wingspan. He's averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game in his freshman campaign with Kentucky.

Fit: Good. The Bobcats need whatever they can get.

Pro Potential: Superstar. Davis struggles at times with his offensive game and needs to add muscle to his frame, but his defensive capabilities alone make him a potential star.

2. Detroit Pistons: Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes is the explosive young scorer that Detroit needs. This team is just plain bad, poorly constructed both on and off the court.

Fit: Good. Detroit should go with this pick and build around Barnes and young point guard Brandon Knight.

Pro Potential: Star. Barnes has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA. I'm not convinced that he will be a superstar yet, though.

3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is one of the best freshmen in the country. He's a good scorer, but has the potential to be an elite defender.

Fit: Good. This team needs guys who can defend and who have good heads on their shoulders. So far, Kidd-Gilchrist appears to fulfill both.

Pro Potential: Superstar. I must qualify by saying that I believe this kid can be a superstar defender. He is a good offensive player, but it will be his defense that separates him.

4. Toronto Raptors: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Thomas Robinson is one of the lead contenders for player of the year this year. He's averaging a double-double and is playing himself up draft boards each day.

Fit: Fair. This team needs talent. Robinson can score and rebound and has the potential to be a solid defender.

Pro Potential: Solid player. I don't think Robinson will be elite in the NBA, but I do think that he will contribute to whatever team drafts him for many years.

5. Sacramento Kings: Jeremy Lamb, G, Connecticut

Jeremy Lamb was a key component of the UConn Huskies' championship run last season. The 6'5" guard is long and athletic to excel at the NBA level.

Fit: Fair. The Kings have a lot of pieces, but can't seem to win with any of them. Lamb gives them a good shooter that has the potential to be a very good defender.

Pro Potential: Solid. No superstar here, but Lamb will be good enough to be an NBA starter.

6. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

At 6'11" and 270 pounds, Andre Drummond is athletic enough to be an NBA center right now.

Fit: Good. New Orleans already has an athletic center in Emeka Okafor, but Drummond's potential is too great for this team to pass up.

Pro Potential: Possibly a star. Drummond will be probably be a DeAndre Jordan-type player, especially at first. He could be an elite center who anchors an entire team's defense.

7. New Jersey Nets: Brad Beal, G, Florida

Brad Beal is a 6'4" shooting guard who is primarily an outside shooter.

Fit: Fair. Beal will provide the Nets with a solid outside shooter, but that may not be what they need considering they jack up too many threes as it is.

Pro Potential: Role player. Beal will be a role player at the next level. He'll shoot well and help his team, but will not be a star.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Perry Jones might be the most athletic player in the entire 2012 NBA draft.

Fit: Fair. Cleveland now has a potentially great point guard in Kyrie Irving and a good head coach in Byron Scott. Now, they need to surround those two with talent in order to win. Jones fits that bill.

Pro Potential: Starter. Jones' athleticism will make him a starter in the league, but I haven't seen the intangibles necessary to make him a star.

9. Utah Jazz: Terrence Jones, SF/PF, Kentucky

Much like Perry Jones, Terrence Jones is a very athletic player. He's a bit of a tweener, but either way, he'll provide a healthy dose of talent.

Fit: Decent. The Jazz need more help on the outside. They are very talented in the post, but those guys can't do it alone. Jones will provide that help on the outside.

Pro Potential: Starter/star. Jones is a bit of a mystery. He's athletic, but his lack of a true position may hurt him.

10. Phoenix Suns: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Meyers Leonard is a seven-foot tall center that is tailor made for the Phoenix Suns. The explosive sophomore is averaging 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field and over 70 percent from the three-point line.

Fit: Perfect. Leonard is very athletic and a good passer. He would do extremely well playing in the Suns system with Steve Nash.

Pro Potential: Starter. Leonard is gifted, but he won't be a star. He does need to improve on defense, which will make him fit in with everyone else on the Suns roster. He's also a bit light at 240 pounds.

11. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger has become one of the most well-known college basketball players in the country over the past two years. Sully is probably the most refined big man in this draft class.

Fit: Fair. Sullinger would give the Bucks a potentially-fantastic frontcourt when paired with Andrew Bogut. He's a well-rounded player and would be just as good at PF as anyone they have.

Pro Potential: Star. Many are bothered by Sullinger's lack of athleticism, and that's why he'll fall this far in the draft. However, his skills are so refined and his basketball IQ so high that he has the potential to be a Tim Duncan-esque player. Not that good, but the same type of guy.

12. New Orleans Hornets: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Quincy Acy is a talented perimeter player that will add scoring and athleticism to a Hornets team that needs both.

Fit: Good. Acy gives the Hornets a talented player that has the potential to score and defend against anyone.

Pro Potential: Starter. Acy is good enough to be a perennial starter, but he won't be a franchise-changer. He's a tweener, but he'll definitely be an SF at the next level.

13. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Terrence Ross is a good scorer with good height for his position at 6'5". He's very well-rounded offensively.

Fit: Good. With Houston being mentioned continuously in trade speculation, Ross would provide a scorer that could replace Kevin Martin next season should he be dealt.

Pro Potential: Star. Ross is extremely well-rounded offensively and has the potential to become one of the next great scorers in the NBA. If he improves his ball-handling and defense, he may be among the best.

14. Memphis Grizzlies: Tyler Zeller, PF/C, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller is a legit seven-footer that provides length and athleticism. He's gifted offensively and looks like he will continue to improve.

Fit: Decent. Zeller will provide Memphis the depth it needs in the frontcourt. We all saw what happened when Zach Randolph went out.

Pro Potential: Starter. Zeller is gifted offensively, but lacks the strength to be a good defender. He'll need improve in that area to be anything better than average.

15. Portland Trailblazers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Kendall Marshall has shown that he has the ability to play the point at the next level. He's a good passer and knows how to direct a team offensively.

Fit: Good. Marshall will make a solid backup to Raymond Felton, another UNC alum.

Pro Potential: Starter. Marshall will probably be a backup at first, but he is good enough to start in this league. He's not good individually on the offensive end, but does make everyone around him better.

16. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Usually, it isn't a good idea for fathers and sons to work together, but it might be in this case. Austin Rivers is a solid all-around scorer with a high basketball IQ.

Fit: Decent. This pick might be a bit of a reach, but Boston needs a new superstar for the future. Rivers has shown that he might be that guy.

Pro Potential: Star. Right now, Rivers isn't yet on track to super stardom. He could be, but he must become better on defense and not just a scorer.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie was formerly a perimeter player, having just made the transition to the post. At 6'10", he has the size of a center combined with some of the skills of a guard.

Fit: Fair. The Hawks need a true center. Al Horford is a power forward and needs to move to that position. Time will tell if Moultrie can be that true center.

Pro Potential: Starter. Moultire is athletic and offensively-gifted. However, he does lack significant post experience and may be a project.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Doron Lamb is a very efficient shooting guard at Kentucky that will help the Timberwolves on the offensive side of the ball.

Fit: Fair. Lamb isn't a good defender, lacking the necessary strength. He does work well within an offense, which will help him play with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.

Pro Potential: Starter. Lamb must improve his defense. If he does, he'll start in this league because he takes and makes good shots.

19. Los Angeles Lakers: Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas

Myck Kabongo is a good all-around point guard. He defends, passes and runs an offense very well.

Fit: Good. The Lakers need a point guard. Kabongo provides a little bit of everything at the position.

Pro Potential: Starter. While Kabongo is very well-rounded, he won't be a star. He'll be a dependable player at the NBA level.

20. Orlando Magic: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Damian Lillard is a good scoring point guard that has ideal size at 6'2" and strength.

Fit: Good. There is no telling what the Magic will look like next season. Jameer Nelson should probably be on the way out if Dwight Howard leaves. Lillard would give the Magic a young scoring point guard to replace him.

Pro Potential: Star. It's a bit of a stretch, but he does have the potential to be a star. If he can improve his mid-range game and his assists, he'll get there.

21. Denver Nuggets: Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Mason Plumlee has the size to be a force in the post for an NBA squad. He's a good defender and a hard worker.

Fit: Fair. This team needs some inside toughness. Plumlee can give that. He doesn't seem to fit, but he will fit that need.

Pro Potential: Role player. Plumlee will be a solid big man in the league. He won't be a big scorer, but his defense will keep him employed.

22. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Fab Melo is an immensely talented seven-footer that will give the Boston Celtics the interior presence they've lost in recent years.

Fit: Fair. Melo is still raw and young, but he has all the tools to be a great center. Learning from Kevin Garnett should prove extremely helpful for him.

Pro Potential: Star. Melo is bursting with potential, and how good he is will all depend on his work ethic at the next level.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Patric Young, PF, Florida

Patric Young is a very athletic, explosive power forward that will immediately impact the second unit of the Hawks.

Fit: Good. Young is very raw, but tremendously explosive. The second unit will give him time to mature and develop his game.

Pro Potential: Starter. Young is athletic enough to start, but he must continue improving his game.

24. Dallas Mavericks: Evan Fournier, SF, International

Evan Fournier is a talented French wing player that will contribute solid minutes off the bench of an NBA team.

Fit: Decent. Fournier is a solid player, but will only be a role player. He'll be a cheap option for Mark Cuban, who is clearly trying to save money for free agency.

Pro Potential: Role player. Fournier is a smart player and, like most European players, knows how to play the game. However, he's no star and never will be.

25. San Antonio Spurs: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Dion Waiters is a combo guard out of Syracuse that would lack a true position on most teams.

Fit: Good. Waiters fits the typical Spurs role player. He's a talented guy who defies true classification. He plays well on offense, both off the ball and on the dribble.

Pro Potential: Role player/starter. He's unlikely to start because of that tweener status, but it's possible. He'll need to become a better passer to start.

26. Indiana Pacers: William Buford, SG, Ohio State

William Buford is an athletic two-guard that understands the game and his role in it.

Fit: Good. Buford can play off the ball, which is good on a team where you have other guys who need the ball more. Buford can fit into this offense well.

Pro Potential: Starter. Buford will be one of those guys that plays because he knows the game and plays well. Not the most talented, but very smart.

27. Philadelphia 76ers: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

John Jenkins is a pure shooter, pure and simple. He has NBA-caliber range and is tall enough to get off his shots.

Fit: Good. Jenkins can stretch the floor for the host of athletic playmakers that Philly has.

Pro Potential: Starter/role player. I'm not sure here. He will be a great shooter, but it is unclear how much more.

28. Chicago Bulls: Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia

Kevin Jones is a thick big man with the strength to bang inside with NBA post men.

Fit: Good. Jones can add to the defensive presence inside for Chicago, especially for the second unit. He's faster than he looks, but lacks athleticism.

Pro Potential: Role player. Jones will be a banger in his career and probably not much more.

29. Miami Heat: Toma Satoransky, PG/SG, International

Tomas Satoransky is an athletic, 6'6" combo guard and one of the best players coming out of Europe.

Fit: Good. The Heat could use help at point guard, and Satoransky can give that help. He's big for the position and will help on defense. He's also very gifted offensively and knows how to use his size as an advantage.

Pro Potential: Starter. His size and skill set make him a commodity as a point guard.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Jeffery Taylor is an athletic wing man that is great at getting to the line and the rim.

Fit: Good. Taylor will possibly help back up Kevin Durant. He provides athleticism to their second unit. However, he may end up in the D-league due to the team's depth.

Pro Potential: Role player. Right now, this is as high as I can go. Taylor has disappeared in games and lacks refinement. He could be really good, but I need to see more.