Late-Round Rookies Who Are Already Showing They Are Hidden Gems

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Although the talk of the 2012 rookie class has been about Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis, some of the rookies that fell through the cracks on draft nights are proving that they can be capable pros.

Some of these recent late picks include Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets, Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz and Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

While the 2012 draft looks to be especially top-heavy, there could be some rookies that come along as value late-round picks. The draft lottery is where all the hype is, but countless times it has been guys out of the first 14 picks that have become big NBA studs.

Here are seven rookies that look to be hidden gems this season.

7) Festus Ezeli, Golden State Warriors

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Draft selection: First round, 30th pick

College: Vanderbilt

Position: Center

Breakdown: Big man Festus Ezeli has been a pleasant surprise for the jump-shooting Golden State Warriors this season. 

Ezeli’s numbers are not overwhelming, but his defensive impact in the paint has been noted. Although Ezeli is averaging right around one block per game, he routinely alters shots when he is in. 

While his unrefined offensive game is still concerning, Ezeli is a high-energy player, capable of giving relief to center Andrew Bogut. With Bogut’s continuing ankle injury, Ezeli will have more opportunities to excel on the Dubs’ frontline.

Once the Vanderbilt product gets his timing right, he could be an imposing defender in this league for years to come.

6) Alexey Shved, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Draft selection: Undrafted

College: N/A (Russia)

Position: Guard

Breakdown: Alexey Shved has been a nice playmaker for the Minnesota Timberwolves in limited minutes this season. 

Shved has the luxury of playing on a fluid overachieving roster early into the season. With playmakers like JJ Barea and Brandon Roy, Shved will be learning from players that can often make something out of nothing. 

Under the guidance of Rick Adelman, Shved could remain a staple in the Wolves’ rotation once Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love return from injury. 

This T-Wolves team has some surprising depth and could find themselves in the playoffs if they can stay afloat with Rubio and Love out.

5) Tyler Zeller, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Draft selection: First round, 17th pick

College: North Carolina

Position: Center

Breakdown: Although Tyler Zeller has been largely overshadowed by his rookie teammate Dion Waiters, there is no underestimating the big man’s presence in the post. 

Zeller plays with high levels of energy and has been an above-average defender early into this season. Along with Waiters, Anderson Varejao and sophomore phenom Kyrie Irving, Zeller will help to compose a nice core for the up-and-coming Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Playing on a young and precocious roster, Zeller should get a lot of exposure this season. If his game really coalesces, then he will surely make some GMs regret not taking him earlier.

4) Moe Harkless, Orlando Magic

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Draft selection: First Round, 15th pick

College: St. John's

Position: Forward

Breakdown: Caught in the chaos of the Dwight Howard trade this summer, Moe Harkless might have been a snag for the Orlando Magic. 

Harkless got his real minutes in the Magic’s fourth game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had a solid debut, scoring seven points, pulling down five boards, and adding three steals and two blocks. 

The Magic will be bottom feeders for the foreseeable future, giving Harkless ample time to develop his game in Orlando.

3) Jae Crowder, Dallas Mavericks

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Draft selection: Second Round, fourth pick

College: Marquette

Position: Forward

Breakdown: Jae Crowder has had solid contributions for the overachieving Dallas Mavericks this season. 

Without Dirk Nowitzki in the lineup, Dallas jumped out to a 4-1 start, with an impressive opening night road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Crowder is a hustle player with a high basketball IQ. Four seasons at Marquette have put him among the more mature rookies in the class. Every squad needs a player to do a team’s dirty work, and Crowder looks to fit that description for the Mavs.

2) Pablo Prigioni, New York Knicks

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Draft selection: Undrafted

College: N/A (Argentina)

Position: Point Guard

Breakdown: Perhaps this season’s most unusual rookie is the 35-year-old Pablo Prigioni of the New York Knicks. 

Prigioni helps push the pace for New York and provides nice backup guard play to starters Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. 

The Argentine had a big game off the bench in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers. The point guard scored 11 points and dropped six dimes in a 110-88 win over the gritty Sixers.

The Knicks' heavy arsenal of scorers should continue to complement Prigioni’s adept playmaking abilities.

1) Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics

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Draft selection: First round, 21st pick

College: Ohio State

Position: Power forward

Breakdown: Coming off an incredible career at Ohio State, Jared Sullinger was touted as one of the best college prospects entering the draft. As reports of a bad back surfaced, GMs began to pass on the young big man.

Sullinger plummeted in the draft before being picked up by the Boston Celtics with the No. 21 pick in the 2012 draft. 

Still looking for more consistent minutes, Sullinger has quietly ploughed on early for the Celts. The big man has one of the best opportunities of the 2012 rookie class, playing in a championship culture under the tutelage of the hungry Kevin Garnett.

It is the perfect opportunity to become a student of the game, and Sullinger looks ready to grow and excel in Beantown.