2012 NBA Draft: 7 Prospects Who Will Vault Up Draft Boards

We are about a month away from the beginning of March Madness, and this becomes a very big month for potential NBA draft prospects.

Several guys can separate themselves the rest of the way and rise up draft boards before their respective seasons come to an end.

Here's a look at a handful of guys whose stock could skyrocket very soon.

For a look at where these guys are currently projected, you can take a look at our latest mock draft as well.

Troy Wroten, Washington

Currently projected at the bottom third of the first round, look for Wroten to make a serious climb up the board in the next few weeks and position himself to be the first point guard off the board.

Wroten has good size, standing 6'5", and is lightning quick.

He's a pass-first guard that can score within the flow of the offense and is an extremely versatile player who has scored in double figures in 23 of 25 games.

Wroten currently ranks among the top five in the Pac-12 in points (16.4), assists (3.5), steals (2.0) and field-goal percentage (46.5). He's also been phenomenal at getting to the free throw line, getting to the stripe 205 times, which ranks him second among all major college players.

Jae Crowder, Marquette

Crowder is a guy who may not have typical first-round talent, but he could find a way to shoot up draft boards and find a way to sneak into the end of the first round.

He's likely a second-round sleeper that can contribute in the way Landry Fields and DeAndre Jordan have of late, but Crowder is a guy with NBA tools.

Crowder is a very physical player with a high basketball IQ and a nonstop motor. He compensates for what some may view as a lack of athleticism and a lack of size with production.

He's led Marquette to a 22-5 start to the season by averaging 16.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.0 APG and 2.3 SPG.

He's not on many draft boards right now, but the guy makes plays and could find his way into the equation before long.

William Buford, Ohio State

Buford is a guy we've had at the bottom of the first round for some time now, but he's in a good position to make a rise up the board.

He's gone overlooked and has been in the shadows of teammate Jared Sullinger, but Buford can flat out shoot the ball.

He's gone over 43 percent from the field in each of his four seasons and has been over 36 percent from behind the arc in each season as well.

A team that could use a shooter who is also a very good defender could take a shot on Buford early on.

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Lillard is a dynamic scoring guard who's an intriguing NBA prospect. He isn't only a great scorer, he is also a solid rebounder and passer.

He's averaging 24.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.9 APG and 1.4 SPG, but scouts are going to want to see what Lillard can do against top competition.

He's dominated the Big Sky Conference, but if Lillard can lead the Wildcats to an NCAA Tournament win or two, he may be able to separate himself from a crop of talented point guards.

The same can be said for Iona's Scott Machado and Tennessee Tech's Kevin Murphy, who could all help their causes by getting in the tournament and maybe winning a game while dominating the competition.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois

The top seven or eight picks in the 2012 draft are all probably locks, and that doesn't include any international players that may make themselves eligible for the draft.

It will be tough for someone to break into the top 10, but if anyone could, it could be a guy like Leonard.

Currently, there is a group of big guys all bunched together. That list includes guys like Leonard, Mason Plumlee, both Cody and Tyler Zeller and others.

Eventually, someone will need to separate themselves from the rest, and Leonard could stand to gain the most.

The Fighting Illini are no lock to make the NCAA Tournament at 16-11, but if Leonard could lead them to a solid run in the Big Ten Tournament and then into the Big Dance and get a couple of wins there, he could open a lot of eyes.

Alex Young, IUPUI

Young stands 6'6" and has an NBA body.

He's as physical as he is quick, and he has an outstanding first step and seems to get to the rim at will.

He can play the two or the three, and he puts up solid numbers, which include averages of 20.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG and 1.0 BPG.

He not only brings it offensively, but is a good rebounder and defender as well.

The Jaguars won't be heading to NCAA Tournament unless they find a way to win the Summit League, so these last few weeks of the season and the pre-draft camps are huge for a guy like Young to make a run up the ladder.

Herb Pope, Seton Hall

I haven't had Pope in the first round of any mock yet to date, but he definitely has first-round-type talent.

He could really benefit by getting the 18-9 Pirates into the Big Dance and then doing something special while there.

Pope is a terror in the paint, and he's long and athletic enough to be a consistent double-double guy in the NBA.

His game should translate well to the next level, and his current numbers (15.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG), playing in a tough Big East conference, should open some eyes.

In addition to his scoring potential, Pope is a great rebounder and shot-blocker whose motor never stops.

He's the classic case of a guy though that, with a good tourney run, could end up vaulting himself to the middle of the first round. But without a run, he could see himself drafted in the beginning or middle of the second round.