While the 2011-12 NBA season might unfortunately not happen, basketball fans can still be happy about the upcoming NCAA season which is sure to be full of excitement.
Players such as Harrison Barnes, James McAdoo, Andre Drummond and Austin Rivers are just some of the players in the loaded 2012 draft class.
There are many potential NBA stars in this class, and it will be exciting to see how they play at their respective schools this season.
Let's look at an early edition of a 2012 NBA Mock Draft.
1) Minnesota Timberwolves: Andre Drummond
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Andre Drummond of UConn is a physically gifted player who can play center or power forward. He has the ability to be a dominant rebounder and shot blocker at the NBA level.
The Minnesota Timberwolves don't have an intimidating presence in the paint at the defensive end, and with 2011 No. 1 overall pick Derrick Williams and Drummond, the Timberwolves would have two incredibly athletic players with huge upside.
If he can develop a better offensive game and maybe a mid-range shot, he could be almost unstoppable at UConn this season.
2) Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Davis
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Anthony Davis of Kentucky is a very smooth power forward who has excellent ball handling and passing skills for someone 6'10" tall. Davis is also a good defender both on the perimeter and as a shot blocker in the paint.
He's a bit thin, so adding some pounds and strength is certainly a goal for him this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers took point guard Kyrie Irving of Duke with the top pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and selecting a center seems like a logical move for them next season.
3) Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes
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Harrison Barnes is an athletic small forward who will give the Toronto Raptors a bit of everything. Barnes is a good offensive player who has really improved his jump shot and also takes the ball to the basket well.
Barnes also has good speed and underrated strength. He's an NBA-ready forward who made a smart move to stay in school and polish his skills.
With a good season at North Carolina, Barnes could make a strong case to be the top pick in the 2012 draft.
4) Washington Wizards: Jared Sullinger
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Jared Sullinger isn't a great fit in Washington, but he is way too good of a player for the Wizards to pass on with a top five pick.
Sullinger decided to stay in school for another season despite the possibility of being a top 5 pick in last year's draft.
Sullinger has a very good post game with many effective offensive moves. He's a fundamentally strong player who is almost an old-school forward with the way he plays the game.
He doesn't have great athleticism and won't be a dominating shot blocker, but Sullinger is capable of doing well right away at the NBA level.
5) Sacramento Kings: Quincy Miller
Baylor freshman small forward Quincy Miller is an athletic player with good offensive skills.
The Kings have a good young team and Miller would be a nice addition at forward. He'd fit in with the team's high-tempo style of play led by guard Tyreke Evans.
Miller needs to become stronger, but he has a ton of potential.
6) New Jersey Nets: James McAdoo
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James McAdoo is a very good offensive player who finishes well at the rim and is versatile enough to play a few different positions.
McAdoo has great length and is a quality shot blocker for a small forward. He has a ton of talent, and with a good freshman season at North Carolina, he could be a top five pick in next year's draft.
McAdoo could give the Nets a superstar forward and a reason to make Deron Williams stay next summer when he can become a free agent.
7) Detroit Pistons: Austin Rivers
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Austin Rivers may not drop out of the top five, but if he does the Detroit Pistons would love to take him.
He is a very good point guard with great passing skills and superb floor vision. He can also score at the basket and has an improved long range shot.
With Rodney Stuckey possibly leaving Detroit soon, the Pistons need to find a quality point guard to replace him, and Rivers is a fantastic player.
8) Los Angeles Clippers: Marquis Teague
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Marquis Teague of Kentucky has great speed, quickness and strength as a point guard, and is one of the most talented point guards in the country.
Teague also creates opportunities for his teammates and is an underrated jump shooter.
He does, however, need to improve his decision making, but that will improve with coaching at Kentucky.
Mo Williams is an overrated point guard and plays no defense, so finding a replacement for him would be a good idea for the Clippers.
9) Charlotte Bobcats: Brad Beal
Shooting guard Brad Beal from Florida is a good defender and a quality outside shooter. He has the athleticism and strength to defend both guard positions and will become an even better defender if he adds more strength.
Beal can also pass the ball very well and is an intelligent player. Overall, he's a talented offensive player who would fit in nicely with the Bobcats.
10) Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones
Baylor power forward Perry Jones made a smart decision to stay in school this summer and develop his raw talent into real stardom.
Jones is a gifted athlete but needs to add some strength.
He finishes well at the basket and has great explosiveness off the dribble. He's of the most talented players in this draft class and has real superstar potential.
If the Bucks have an opportunity to select Jones in the draft, they cannot pass him up.
11) Golden State Warriors: Patric Young
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Patric Young of Florida is a very good center prospect who has the size and strength needed to excel in the NBA.
He blocks shots well and is a tremendous rebounder. His defensive skills are very good. With a bit more offensive polish, he could be a top 10 pick for sure.
12) Utah Jazz: Terrence Jones
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Terrence Jones made a smart decision to stay at Kentucky this season, and with further development he will establish himself as a lock to be a top 15 pick.
Jones is a versatile forward with great athleticism, and is not shy of the bright stage.
He has good quickness and is able to drive to the basket and score effectively, but he uses his left hand way too much and must improve going to his right.
If he can develop a better defensive game, he will be a very good NBA prospect next June.
13) Phoenix Suns: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a top 5 talent but just needs to polish his game a bit more. He has great basketball intelligence and is an athletic small forward with good defensive skills.
The Phoenix Suns need a game-changing player who has the potential to dominate at both ends of the floor and Kidd-Gilchrist is that player.
14) Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb
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Unlike former UConn teammate Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb decided to stay in school this season. Lamb is a tremendous shooting guard with great explosiveness and scores well at the basket.
He's also a winner, as evidenced by his major role in the Huskies' 2011 national title. He has great composure and maturity for a young kid, too.
Lamb is also a good perimeter defender, and would give the Houston Rockets a dependable player who will perform well at both ends of the floor.
15) Indiana Pacers: Terrence Ross
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Terrence Ross is an athletic forward who has a good jump shot and can create for teammates. He handles the ball well and also has NBA shooting range, even extending to the three-point line.
Ross moves very well without the ball and is an unselfish player.
16) Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson
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After a disappointing season freshman season, John Henson has become a very good player and is now a junior at North Carolina.
Henson is an athletic player and because of his length, he blocks shots very well.
His transition game is great and he changes games with his defense. His offense needs work, including more post moves.
However, Henson is a supreme athletic talent and has the ability to be a top 10 pick with a great season for the Tar Heels.
17) New York Knicks: Trevor Mbakwe
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Trevor Mbakwe is a senior power forward at Minnesota who has a strong, fundamentally sound game. He has good physical size and is a quality rebounder.
Mbakwe would be a good backup for Amare Stoudemire for the New York Knicks with his experience and dependable defensive ability in the paint.
18) Atlanta Hawks: Doron Lamb
Doron Lamb is a quality shooting guard who can provide some scoring for the Atlanta Hawks right away.
Lamb is an athletic player who has good size, too. At Kentucky he has the ability to become an excellent shooting guard and a top prospect.
With veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford likely hitting free agency when that period opens again, the Hawks may need to find his replacement soon.
19) Memphis Grizzlies: Khris Middleton
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Khris Middleton is a versatile player who is getting stronger as he readies himself for the NBA Draft. Middleton is a good jump shooter and also passes the ball well.
With the future of OJ Mayo uncertain, Middleton is someone who could fill the shooting guard and small forward roles very well.
His draft stock improved over the summer, and has the ability to become a top 15 pick with a good season for Texas A&M.
20) New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall
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Kendall Marshall is a very good point guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He's an excellent passer and sees the floor very well.
He is also an underrated scorer and a good leader.
With the possible and maybe even inevitable free agent exit of superstar Chris Paul next summer, Marshall would be a good replacement at point guard for the Hornets.
21) Portland Trail Blazers: DeWayne Dedmon
USC center DeWayne Dedmon would be a good center for the Portland Trail Blazers because he is a dependable rebounder and interior defender.
With Greg Oden having major issues staying healthy, the Trail Blazers should select a big man with a draft pick in the early 20s.
Tyler Zeller of North Carolina might also be a big man for Portland to consider with this pick.
22) Denver Nuggets: Thomas Robinson
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Thomas Robinson is a good player who has the strength needed to be a force as a small forward in the NBA.
He plays with a ton of energy and uses that to be a tremendous rebounder. He has an improving jump shot but it still needs work.
Robinson is a player who could help the Denver Nuggets in many different ways. He has the potential to be a solid player who can contribute right away.
23) Orlando Magic: Myck Kabongo
Myck Kabongo is a very good point guard prospect and a player who has great playmaking skills. He is a brilliant passer and sees the floor quite well.
He also has great quickness and leads the fast break with effectiveness. Kabongo is certainly a player the Magic should take if he falls to them.
24) Boston Celtics: CJ Leslie
The Boston Celtics need an athletic forward who can inject some youth and energy into an aging, veteran squad; CJ Leslie of North Carolina State can fill that role.
Leslie is an explosive offensive player who is effective in transition and in the half court.
He has a promising jump shot but that still needs work. One of his strengths as a scorer is taking the ball to the basket.
With a bit more polish and development, Leslie could be a fine NBA player.
25) Oklahoma City Thunder: Kris Joseph
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Kris Joseph would be too good of a player to pass up in the mid- to late 20s of the first round, and with good defensive abilities he would fit with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Joseph's rebounding skills are impressive, too.
He has a raw offensive game but during his senior season at Syracuse he will have all the chances he needs to become a complete basketball player.
26) Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Zeller
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With center Tyson Chandler possibly leaving in free agency next summer, Tyler Zeller could be someone to step in for Chandler at center for the Dallas Mavericks.
Zeller has size (7') and has several effective post moves. He has a soft touch at the rim and is also a pretty good interior defender.
He doesn't wow you on the stat sheet but he is a dependable player who can help at both ends of the floor.
Zeller is one of the better center prospects in this draft and can really improve his draft stock with a great senior season at North Carolina.
27) Los Angeles Lakers: Draymond Green
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Ron Artest and Matt Barnes are not the answer at small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers; drafting Draymond Green would give them a physical forward who can excel at both ends of the floor right away.
The Michigan State senior is an intelligent player and has the strength needed to score and rebound in the paint.
28) Miami Heat: Maalik Wayns
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Maalik Wayns is a very good point guard for Villanova who has quality shooting range and superior quickness.
The Miami Heat badly need a point guard who can contain and defend other elite point guards well; Wayns has the ability to be that kind of player.
His game needs more polish and his decision-making needs work, but with a solid season at Villanova he could really become a top point guard prospect.
29) San Antonio Spurs: Mason Plumlee
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Mason Plumlee has good physical size to play power forward in the NBA and has a polished low post game that includes several effective post moves.
He's not a bad rebounder, but it's certainly an area he can improve. Plumlee also has good athleticism and has become a much better shot blocker over the last few seasons at Duke.
With Tim Duncan not being the elite player he once was, the Spurs should consider finding a player with similar fundamental skills.
30) Chicago Bulls: William Buford
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Ohio State senior guard William Buford is a very good defensive player who has the experience and leadership NBA teams look for.
Buford is a very good outside shooter who can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. The Bulls need a shooting guard who can make threes and defend, and Buford fits that role perfectly.
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