10 College Stars Whose NBA Draft Stock Will Soar in the NCAA Tourney

The 2012 NBA Draft is expected to boast one of the deepest draft classes in recent history, according to most experts.

With two potential cornerstone big men (Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis and UConn freshman Andre Drummond) and a back-to-back preseason All-American (North Carolina sophomore Harrison Barnes), this year's prospects certainly do not lack star power.

The top three picks seem set in stone at this point (Davis is clearly the front runner and the second pick may depend on whose selection it is), but the rest of the draft board has been as scrambled as ESPN's Joe Lunardi's brackets during Championship Week.

In a normal NBA season, draft positions can skyrocket from a strong tournament showing. But in a season where NBA scouts are still eyeing trade deadline targets halfway into March, college basketball's biggest and brightest stage could be even bigger and even brighter.

According to nbadraft.net's latest mock draft, the 10 players on this list will fall somewhere between the middle of the lottery and the middle of the second round.

But an impact performance by any of these players could move them into the upper echelon of this draft class.

10. Festuz Ezeli, PF/C, Vanderbilt

Height: 6'11"

Weight: 255 lbs.

Class: Senior

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 33

It's hard to think of a worse start to a season-long NBA audition than Ezeli's was this season. After the Commodores big man posted averages of 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his junior campaign, he became another target for NBA scouts already interested in his perimeter teammates, Jeffery Taylor and John Jenkins.

But after missing 10 of his team's first 12 games with a suspension for receiving improper benefits and a sprain to his right MCL and PCL, the gap between Ezeli and his flashier teammates widened on most scouting lists.

He's put up a very pedestrian 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks this year, but has shown flashes of what put him on those lists. In an overtime loss to then No. 15 Mississippi State, he finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

After totaling 28 points and 12 rebounds in his team's two regular season meetings with Davis and John Calipari's vaulted frontcourt, Ezeli had an efficient 17 points in Vandy's win over the Wildcats in Sunday's SEC Conference Championship.

This is a deep class for big men, so Ezeli has his work cut out for him if he hopes to separate himself from the pack. But Vanderbilt has the talent to make a lengthy run in this tournament, giving him a longer time to impress. If Ezeli can keep himself from his teammates' shadows, he could creep toward the lottery.

9. Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 189 lbs.

Class: Freshman

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 32

The consensus top point guard and a top-10 player in his class, Teague has a couple things working in his favor to launch him from early second round into the late lottery or better.

For starters, he leads the No. 1 team in the nation. While this has limited his numbers (9.6 points and 4.7 assists), it has also garnered him more exposure than any point guard not named Kendall Marshall. There's no reason to think the Wildcats won't afford him a lengthy tournament run and even more exposure along the way.

Second, as good as this class is, it is very thin on point guards. Only two true point guards (Marshall and Weber State's Damian Lillard) are projected ahead of Teague.

Lastly, history may be on his side in a couple of ways. His older brother, Jeff, is the Atlanta Hawks' starting point guard. And with scouts questioning the younger Teague's ability to become a natural point guard, he could give them a history lessen on other "non-natural" John Calipari point guards: Tyreke Evans, John Wall and Derrick Rose.

8. Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Height: 6'9"

Weight: 210 lbs.

Class: Freshman

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 31

Miller has the size and physical gifts of a top-10 pick. With his size and ability to score in a variety of ways, it's hard to understand how the versatile forward currently sits outside of the first round.

But his consistency (and perhaps focus) makes scouts wish for Lamar Odom consistency. He scored 29 points in 31 minutes in a loss against then-fifth ranked Missouri earlier this season. He also has scored just 31 points in his last five games combined.

The intriguing thing about Miller's first March Madness experience is that if Baylor manages an extended stay, he should be a big part of it. He's not their most talented player (that name appears later in this list), but he is the biggest problem for opposing defenses. How many teams in college basketball have a small forward with the size to harass Miller on the post and the quickness to control him on the perimeter?

If he manages to find his focus over the next few weeks, Miller could legitimately move inside the draft's top 10.

7. Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 217 lbs.

Class: Senior

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 30

While Joseph's age may worry some scouts (he turned 23 in December), the fact that he's evolved his game this late in his college career may save him from the typical "low ceiling" designation saved for so many collegiate upperclassmen.

Joseph has gone from explosive finisher to dynamic scorer while bulking up his frame without losing his athleticism. He's kept his reliability as a catch-and-shoot threat while showing more comfort creating with the basketball.

With all of that said, he still has a ways to go to get himself into lottery consideration. Playing in Jim Boeheim's zone defense has either hidden his defensive shortcomings or overshadowed his defensive prowess. And Joseph is one of six Orange players averaging between 13.8 and 7.8 points, so his stat lines are not always impressive.

Still, it's that deep and talented roster that should afford Joseph and the 'Cuse plenty of opportunities to impress in the tournament.

6. Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 248 lbs.

Class: Senior

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 28

Of all of the players on this list, none may need a better performance than Jones. What's scary for Jones is that his March stay may be shorter than any of these players.

His numbers are impressive (20.1 points and 11.1 rebounds) and become more impressive considering his season bests from his first three years were just 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. His 4.3 offensive rebounds highlight his high motor and good instincts.

But the reason that Jones needs a strong tournament showing is the workout circuit leading up to the draft will not be kind to Jones. He doesn't have great size or athleticism. He's not a fluid athlete, and his shooting form is past the point of a Better Basketball DVD correction.

But March Madness is not a strongest man or fastest runner competition. It's 5-on-5 basketball, and that's what Jones does best. No one of the list means more to their team than he does. Any NCAA wins at all will mean Jones is playing great and his draft stock is rising.

5. Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Height: 6'9"

Weight: 244 lbs.

Class: Sophomore

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 18

The first of three lottery locks from a season ago who returned to their respective universities, Jones now appears the poster child for the "Leave School as Early as Possible" movement. His scoring, rebound and minutes have all decreased this season, thanks largely due to Calipari's latest coup, including, among others, the aforementioned Davis.

All things considered (surrounding talent, role on the team), it's hard to call Jones' season a disappointment. He still fills his stat sheet (over 12 points, six rebounds, 1.5 blocks and one steal per night) despite playing with other terrific defenders in Davis and fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He's increased his shooting percentage over five points from last year to 50.5 percent.

Like his teammate, Teague, Jones may have trouble separating himself from his teammates in what will likely be an extended stay. But with his size and athleticism, scouts may not need five or six strong showings to push Jones. If he can just find a game here or there to tap into that potential that scouts love, he could at least move back where he was projected to go last season: top 10.

4. Perry Jones III, SF/PF, Baylor

Height: 6'11"

Weight: 235 lbs.

Class: Sophomore

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 17

Much like Terrence Jones, Perry Jones had the opportunity to enter last season's draft and was long projected at or near the top of the entire class. But the Baylor big man decided to return to coach Scott Drew's Bears hoping to improve on a rather lackluster freshman campaign.

One look at the versatile forward, and it's easy to see what scouts love about him. He has tremendous size and length (a reported 7' 2.5" wingspan) and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He can shoot over small defenders and has too much quickness for bigger defenders.

But after posting nearly identical numbers as last season (14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds compared to last year's 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds), Jones has yet to instill confidence that he'll realize his tremendous potential.

Scouts would love to see Jones dominate the NCAA tournament in the same way he dominated the Big 12 Tournament, where he totaled 65 points and 29 rebounds in Baylor's three games. His measureables will keep him near the lottery no matter his play in March, but he has the talent to move Baylor along through the tournament as his name moves up draft boards.

3. Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 197 lbs.

Class: Sophomore

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 16

Marshall is another player who may struggle in the workout circuit before the draft. Although he has good size for an NBA point guard, he's neither a great athlete or a good shooter. In other words, it may be tough for him to find success in many drills.

But when scouts watch Marshall play in (or control) a 5-on-5 setting, his strengths are hard to miss. He averaged 9.7 assists to just 2.8 turnovers and tallied double-digit assists in 15 games this season.

Whether or not his numbers are inflated playing on a team with four potential first-round picks is debatable, but his court vision would be evident no matter his teammates. And with three potential lottery picks from last season (Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson) returning to Chapel Hill with championship intentions, Marshall should have plenty of tournament tape for scouts to dissect.

2. Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Height: 6'10"

Weight: 281 lbs.

Class: Sophomore

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 10

Sullinger is another player who did not do himself any favors by returning to school after spending most of last season in the top five of mock drafts.

But his drop in draft stock this year has less to do with his on-court performance and more with the talent and depth of this freshman crop. His averages have again been impressive (17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds), and his shooting percentages have increased across the board (54.8 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from three-point and 76.3 percent from the charity stripe).

If Sullinger played in the NBA pre-Kevin Love, scouts may be more concerned with his less-than-impressive athleticism and physique. But his consistent production (double-digit points in 29 of his 32 games this season) suggests that the Buckeyes' tournament run will continue to build his impressive collegiate career.

1. Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 185 lbs.

Class: Sophomore

NBADraft.net Projected Draft Position: 5

Already projected as the fifth pick, there's only so much room for improvement. But Lamb may be the only member of the entire draft field capable of bumping Barnes or Drummond out of the top three.

Lamb's game is first characterized by his smoothness with the basketball. Whether creating off the dribble, pulling up mid-range jumpers or shooting from the outside, the game just seems to come easily to him.

Although Lamb's in danger of having a very brief stay in this year's tournament, he should benefit from his ability to rise to the occasion. As a freshman, he averaged over 16 points in a game in the Huskies' championship run despite fighting his teammates for Kemba Walker's leftovers. He also enters the tournament on a good note after notching 47 points in UConn's first two games in the Big East Tournament.

If Lamb and his teammates can hold off the Iowa State Cyclones in the first round, all eyes should be on the second-round matchup of the defending champs and the No. 1 overall seed, Kentucky.