NBA Draft 2012: 25 Prospects Every Scout Will Closely Watch During March Madness

The 2011-12 college basketball regular season is wrapping up, and we'll soon be entering the March postseason that offers pro prospects a final competitive audition before the NBA draft in June.

Some players like Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson have top spots locked up, but other prospects are going to be heavily scrutinized by NBA scouts and front offices during the conference and NCAA tournaments.

Here is a look at 25 prospects every scout will closely watch during March Madness.

Note: This isn't a ranking of the top-25 prospects, but a collection of intriguing prospects for scouts. I omitted top-five locks and players on teams that won't make the tournament.

Scott Machado, Iona Gaels

As of right now, the Iona Gaels are on track to make the Big Dance, so NBA scouts eagerly await the opportunity to see Scott Machado under the bright lights of March Madness.

The 6'1" point guard dishes 10 assists per game in the MAAC, but I wonder if he can have similar success against bigger, more athletic teams.

Great March: Picks 25-35

Poor March: Late second round

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky Wildcats

No one questions Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's work ethic, positive impact or versatility because the Kentucky forward is a bundle of team-oriented energy who plays hard on both ends of the floor.

The real question is whether he has the offensive-perimeter skills to be a major immediate contributor at the next level. 

If the tournament increasingly exposes those weaknesses, he might not be a Top 5 pick.

Great March: Top 5 pick

Poor March: Late lottery

Quincy Miller, Baylor Bears

Baylor's highly talented freshman has been inconsistent this season, but on the positive side, he's shown glimpses of why NBA general managers are tempted to grab him early in the draft.

Quincy Miller is 6'9" with a long wingspan, but he can handle the rock and shoot from outside.

He's got sky-high potential, so depending on the teams that are looking at him, this postseason could be the audition that seals a lottery selection for him.

Great March: Top 10 pick

Poor March: Middle first round

John Jenkins, Vanderbilt Commodores

He'll never be a star in the NBA, but Vanderbilt's John Jenkins will be a reliable shooter whose role could expand depending upon the situation.

Jenkins' 20 points per game and 46 percent three-point shooting have NBA general managers excited to add a scorer to their lineups.

Over the next month, we'll see how Jenkins does against stiff non-conference competition. His numbers have dipped against elite teams this year (Kentucky, Marquette, Florida), but not too dramatically.

Great March: Late first round

Poor March: Still late first round

Chace Stanback, UNLV Rebels

UNLV guard Chace Stanback is one of the few seniors who has lots to gain or lose this postseason.

Nights like his 28-point outburst against UNC or his 16-point showing against Wisconsin suggest he's a capable forward. On the other hand, scoring two against Air Force and Illinois has us wondering if he'll survive in the NBA.

March could make or break Stanback.

Great March: Middle second round

Poor March: Undrafted

Marquis Teague, Kentucky Wildcats

Marquis Teague's physical and athletic skills aren't topics of debate for scouts anymore. They know he's blessed in that area.

Come tournament time, scouts will be keeping a close watch on his decision-making skills.

He sometimes struggles with running an efficient offense, as he tends to drive to the hoop as a bail-out. Will he be able to read defenses and make plays against unfamiliar squads and teams that Kentucky has less film on?

Great March: Middle first round

Poor March: Late first round

Damian Lillard, Weber State Wildcats

Weber State guard Damian Lillard is a one-man wrecking crew for the Wildcats, as he possesses an impressive ability to create plays for himself and others. He's an excellent shooter with NBA range, and he's dangerous in transition.

But much like Machado, NBA scouts want to see how he plays against the big boys. I think he'll be tough—even for top seeds—to handle, but we don't know exactly how he'll fare.

Great March: Lottery pick

Poor March: Late first round

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas Jayhawks

The Phog Allen faithful have enjoyed a stellar season from Tyshawn Taylor, who has helped Thomas Robinson make Kansas a potential No. 1 seed.

Because he's a bit small to be a shooting guard at the next level, his draft status will depend on whether scouts think he can be a sharp floor general. If he runs the Jayhawks' offense crisply in March, it could help him bump up a few spots.

Great March: Late first round

Poor March: Late second round

Patric Young, Florida Gators

Florida sophomore Patric Young has all the physical tools necessary to be a force at the next level, but there are doubts about his skills as a power forward.

Does he have the potential to be a scorer in the NBA? Decent showings against Big East, ACC, Big 12 or Big Ten teams could make NBA scouts optimistic.

Great March: Late lottery

Poor March: Late first round

Hollis Thompson, Georgetown Hoyas

Georgetown Hoyas junior Hollis Thompson has the size and shooting ability to be an effective spot-up shooter in the NBA.

The uncertainty surrounding him as a prospect has more to do with his shot-creating potential. Does he have it in him to develop a repertoire of moves that will make him a versatile weapon?

Great March: Middle second round

Poor March: Late second round

Tony Wroten Jr., Washington Huskies

The Pacific Northwest boasts a phenomenal athlete who will be a nice wing player as a pro.

The Washington Huskies' Tony Wroten is a young, versatile guard who will probably be a combo guard due to his ability to create for himself and others.

March is his opportunity to show scouts that his jump shot is consistent and NBA-ready.

Great March: Middle first round

Poor March: Late first round

John Henson, North Carolina Tar Heels

If North Carolina wants to make a Final Four run, John Henson needs to continue his double-double trend.

Henson's wingspan, athleticism and productiveness around the glass put him comfortably in the first round of the draft. Unless he plays awfully, the NCAA tournament can't really hurt him; it can only help help him.

He could land in the Top 10 if he plays his cards right.

Great March: Top 10 pick

Poor March: Still a lottery pick

Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut Huskies

Widely considered to be one of the most skilled wing players in the country, Jeremy Lamb's stock has fallen slightly this season due to inconsistency and Connecticut's disappointing campaign.

Despite his prolific scoring ability, there have been some games (such as the Louisville and Notre Dame games) when he was shut down. An impressive run in March could get his stock back up.

Great March: Top 5 pick

Poor March: Late lottery

Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin Badgers

At this point in his Wisconsin career, most NBA scouts have taken a comprehensive look at Jordan Taylor's skill set and potential.

There's not much he can do to change his game, but a superb postseason could be the difference between hearing the phone ring in June or playing overseas next year.

Great March: Late second round

Poor March: Possibly undrafted

Kris Joseph, Syracuse Orange

As one of the senior leaders during Syracuse's impressive regular-season campaign, Kris Joseph has played well inside and out for the Orange.

However, his ball handling is sometimes suspect in traffic and during physical play. Otherwise, he's a solid all-around prospect—a role-playing swingman.

Great March: Picks 15-25

Poor March: Picks 30-40

Perry Jones III, Baylor Bears

After being a Top 5 projected pick last season, Baylor's Perry Jones III saw his stock drop a little after returning to school and being a part of a better crop of prospects.

He's an extremely gifted forward, but there are two simple questions about him as a prospect: Can he play strong, and can he mentally and emotionally lead Baylor to the Final Four?

Great March: Maybe Top 5 pick

Poor March: Picks 10-15

Mason Plumlee, Duke Blue Devils

Much of what Mason Plumlee brings to the table has NBA written all over it. The Duke big man has the combination of size, mobility and agility that they want in a power forward at the next level.

His post-up game needs some work, but he still finds ways to score throughout the game. Unfortunately, he has been somewhat inconsistent this season.

Keep an eye out for how he gets involved in games and how much playing time he receives compared to his brother Miles.

Great March: Middle first round

Poor March: Early second round

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State is having one of its best seasons in years, and Bulldog forward Arnett Moultrie has been a key component of the team's rise in the SEC.

Moultrie is putting up some gaudy numbers, especially in the rebounding department (10.7 per game), but some analysts wonder if he's stuck between positions when it comes to the NBA.

He still has time to prove that this small forward-power forward ambiguity is nothing to worry about and that he's versatile enough to play both positions.

Great March: Lottery pick

Poor march: Late first round

Terrence Jones, Kentucky Wildcats

NBA scouts shouldn't be worried much that Terrence Jones' production went down this season because his shooting percentages are better than last year. What they should be worried about is his awkward jump shot and unrefined ball-handling skills.

But, if the powerful Wildcat imposes his will on both ends of the floor during March, he could work his way up the charts in June.

Great March: Mid-lottery

Poor March: Late first round

Jeff Withey, Kansas Jayhawks

Can Jeff Withey be a backup center in the NBA?

In his first year of substantial playing time, the Kansas Jayhawks junior has proven to be a great shot-blocker and overall post presence.

Withey has a great jump shot for a big man, with solid footwork and above-average court sense.

Scouts will be keeping an eye on his progression this postseason.

Great March: Late second round

Poor March: Undrafted

Kendall Marshall, North Carolina Tar Heels

Chapel Hill's stellar floor general knows how to work an offense, push the tempo and get all of his teammates involved.

His 9.7 assists per game are a major reason why the North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the highest-scoring teams in the country.

I wonder whether he can consistently knock down NBA-range shots or create his own shot.

Great March: Lottery pick

Poor March: Late first round

Bradley Beal, Florida Gators

As you can tell from the photo, Florida Gators freshman Bradley Beal has a fundamental, balanced and pro-ready jumper. He's got a good head on his shoulders and plays hard in all facets of the game.

His quickness and ball handling need some improvement if he wants to be a legitimate scoring threat in the NBA, but I'm sure he has the capability to improve that.

The NCAA tournament is a chance for him to show what he can do against non-SEC teams, and maybe even some powerhouse teams if the Gators get into the later rounds.

Great March: Outside shot at Top 5 pick

Poor March: Late lottery

J'Covan Brown, Texas Longhorns

Just as the Texas Longhorns are on the bubble of getting into the NCAA tournament, J'Covan Brown is on the draft bubble.

The 6'1" junior has nearly doubled his scoring output this season, and he has also improved his assist-to-turnover ratio.

Brown has been a combo guard for most of this season, but he's not tall enough to be a shooting guard as a pro. Now is the time for him to show that he has the potential to be a true NBA point guard.

Great March: Middle second round

Poor March: Undrafted

Dion Waiters, Syracuse Orange

Perhaps the most heralded bench player in the country, Syracuse Orange guard Dion Waiters' draft status has climbed significantly this season.

As far as perimeter players go, he's a tank who can play physical defense. He loves to drive into the lane and use his strength and vertical to create shot or foul opportunities.

Waiters' downside is the fact that he'd be a "tweener" guard as a pro, his decision-making skills are suspect and his jumper could use improvement.

Great March: Picks 25-35

Poor March: Closer to pick 35

Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri Tigers

Ratliffe may not even be Missouri's best NBA prospect, but he's an interesting one, considering his size and skill set.

At this point, the Tigers forward doesn't have the tools to be a combo forward in the pros. That limits him to being an undersized power forward-center in the NBA.

Let's see how he does against the trees in the NCAA tournament.

Great March: Early second round

Poor March: Late second round