NBA Draft 2012: Top Pro Prospects to Watch in Conference Tournaments

March Madness is where names are made. Most of the people who watch college basketball watch it in March and not for the rest of the season. If you're an NBA fan, you might not even know who the best players are. If you're an NBA fan watching March Madness, you're wondering who the prospects to watch out for are. 

Here are the top five players from the conference tournaments you can keep an eye on.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Davis is the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. He is an incredibly athletic center with a 7'4" wingspan. He blocks shots like some malevolent mix of Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah, bundling together the interior defense of Howard and the perimeter defense of Noah. His offensive game is growing, but he is a guard who was 6'2" and then grew eight inches his senior year. 

As a result, he has a unique blend of handles and athleticism rarely seen in a big man. He is the type of player you can build around and a must-watch for fans. NBAdraft.net most similar player: Chris Bosh or Marcus Camby.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes is generally regarded as the best wing player expected to be available in the NBA draft. He has the advantage of being a second-year player, which, by today's standards, make him an old man. He's averaged 17.4 points ad 5.1 rebounds per game this year for the Tarheels. He's a smart player with a great mid-range game and great defensive instincts. NBAdraft.net most similar player: Luol Deng. 

Perry Jones, Baylor

Jones is an incredibly talented player who has the ability to do it all as a 6'11" power forward with speed, athleticism and hops. The one ding against him that has had him falling steadily down draft boards is that he disappears—or, at least, underperforms—against the elite competition. If today's game against Kansas State is any indication, he'll be proving himself during the conference tournament, as Jones scored 31 points and had 11 rebounds against Kansas State. NBAdraft.net most similar player: Anthony Randolph

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrest is the second-best player on Kentucky and is arguably the second-best player in the country. The word that everyone wants to use when describing him is "motor." He's a bit undersized at 6'6", but he has 7'0" wingspan and boundless energy. He attacks the boards hard and is a solid offensive rebounder. He does everything well and would help a number of NBA teams. NBAdraft.net most similar player: Gerald Wallace.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Sulliger is a skilled post man who moves well in the paint and knows how to score. His strength, along with his skill set, makes him a low-risk player who will be a bona fide contributor. He probably has both the lowest risk factor and the lowest upside of anyone in the top five. NBAdraft.net most similar player: Al Jefferson