2012 NBA Draft: Power Ranking the Teams with the Most Promising NBA Talent

With March Madness upon us and the 2012 NBA Draft just three months away, the evaluation process has begun to take flight. Oddly enough, multiple teams have emerged with multiple draft prospects.

As the NCAA Tournament is certain to make new stars out of current afterthoughts, it's important to evaluate a full season of work and decide: Which teams have the most promising NBA talent on their rosters?

10. Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils start this list off with two potential first round draft picks in Austin Rivers and Mason Plumlee.

Rivers is one of the most dynamic players in the nation, utilizing a wide variety of scoring methods to pile the points up. He's also an underrated facilitator, a great isolation dribbler and a talented finisher in transition. He'll need to learn to work without the ball to truly excel at the next level, and might even benefit from another year of school, but he has the talent.

As for Mason Plumlee, the big man is an NBA-ready forward. He could make a difference from day one and, while he may never be an All-Star, he could be a reliable role player for a contender.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

With Jared Sullinger, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas all projected to go at some point in the 2012 NBA Draft, it's easy to see why the Ohio State Buckeyes have such promise come March Madness.

When you take each individual player's upside and abilities into account, however, the promise begins to grow larger.

Sullinger is likely to be a Top 10 draft choice, boasting a massive lower body that helps him fight for position and pick up the easy buckets.

Deshaun Thomas is a versatile forward who can play down low and also score from the perimeter, making him a sleeper to emerge as a late-first round draft choice.

As for Buford, he's a defensive stud who has a very nice mid-range game. His leadership qualities will not go unrewarded, either.

8. Syracuse Orange

The Syracuse Orange have been one of the surprise teams in college basketball. As we approach the NBA Draft, they're surprising us all again.

With two potential first round prospects in Dion Waiters and Fab Melo, the Orange could make a major mark on the NBA.

Dion Waiters is an elite scorer from inside and outside, possessing a beautiful shot and explosive leaping ability once he gets into the paint.

As for Melo, he's nothing special on the offensive end of things. On the glass and on defense, however, he's the type of player who could fill up the middle and make a difference in the outcome of a game.

As for players who could go in the second round, veteran guard Kris Joseph and wingman C.J. Fair are both talented players with NBA-ready bodies.

7. Washington Huskies

The Huskies have two potential first-round draft picks in Tony Wroten Jr. and Terrence Ross.

Wroten Jr. is your quintessential combo guard, as he possesses all the physical tools to score, facilitate and defend. As long as he keeps it all together mentally, he could have a career similar to Jamal Crawford's. But more efficient.

As for Terrence Ross, there's a very thin line between the quality of his potential and Bradley Beal's. That alone makes him a potential lottery pick.

6. Vanderbilt Commodores

With all-purpose forward Jeffry Taylor, pure shooter John Jenkins and defensive stalwart Festus Ezeli, the Commodores boast one of the most surprisingly deep classes all year.

Taylor is making a push to be a lottery selection because of his athletic ability, defensive prowess and developing offensive game.

John Jenkins is a lights-out shooter with an underrated ability to defend and facilitate. He could easily make his way into the first round if the Commodores continue their run of glory that began with an upset of first overall seed Kentucky.

As for Ezeli, he's basically a bigger version of Kendrick Perkins. The main difference, of course, is that Ezeli can score the ball with efficiency. Worth taking a look at.

5. Florida Gators

Both Bradley Beal and Patric Young are first-round prospects, with Beal being projected by many to go in the top 10. Kenny Boynton Jr. is also a name that has caught a lot of steam heading into the draft, being predicted as a possible second-round draft pick.

For Beal, it's all about his shooting ability. He moves without the ball as well as anyone in the nation, and once he has it, he has perfect posture, a high leap and a quick release. While the talent is incomparable, his laying style is quite similar to Ray Allen's.

As for Young, his playing style is similar to another NBA legend: Ben Wallace. Despite standing at just 6'9", Young is a physical specimen. He has explosive leaping ability, a high basketball IQ and rarely breaks his focus on either end of the floor. His developing post-game is just another reason for scouts to love him.

As for Boynton, he's the most unknown prospect. He's a great shooter, though, and can even spend time at the point. Look for a team like the Lakers, who would currently possess the last pick in the draft, to take him on.

4. Baylor Bears

Between Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller and Quincy Acy, it's hard to pick who to focus on. When the three hit the NBA, they'll likely have different roads but similar results. Those results, of course, being success and glory.

PJ3 is as advertised:; A long, athletic player who could easily play the three or the four. He can score from the perimeter or down low, where he has finally begun to focus on. As long as Jones III continues to accept how dominant he can be, this kid could end up being the best player out of this draft.

As for Quincy Miller, he is an excellent athlete with an underrated shooting ability. He can hit it from the perimeter, has a decent low-post game and crashes the boards as well as anyone on the Baylor unit. On defense, his physicality and leaping ability make him a threat to disrupt every play.

Finally, there's Quincy Acy. The Bears' senior is one of the best defenders in the nation,and if not for his teammates' rise, he'd be a late first-round pick. Nevertheless, expect him to dominate the NCAA Tournament and rise back into the second round. He's a Taj Gibson in the making.

3. Kansas Jayhawks

Thomas Robinson is a Top 5 draft prospect, Tyshawn Taylor has Top 20 talent and Jeff Withey is one of the premier shot blockers in college basketball. While only Robinson is projected to go in the first round, all three will see serious playing time at the NBA level.

Tyshawn Taylor has had maturity issues in the past, but entering the NCAA Tournament, he's playing as well as anyone in the nation. He also has very good size for his position, making him a quintessential point guard in a lot of scouts' eyes.

As for Withey, he has shot up more than a handful of NBA big boards. He's a seven-footer who knows how to use his body and reminds me a lot of Aaron Gray. While he won't be a star, he'll be a reliable role player for years to come.

And, of course, Thomas Robinson. Arguably the best player in the nation, Robinson possesses the size, skills and mindset to succeed at the NBA level. It's just a matter of how quickly he'll begin to dominate.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels

Led by Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller, this is a deep North Carolina draft class. The scariest thing is, there are two other Tar Heels who could go in the first round.

John Henson is an incredible athlete with a personality that scouts adore. His approach to the game alone could make him a lottery pick. When you evaluate his talent, you see he could be a Top 10 draft choice in any other year.

Kendall Marshall might be the best facilitator in this draft class, averaging close to double-digit assists on the season. He's also developing a reliable mid-range game, making him a guy who the Los Angeles Lakers go out of their way to acquire.

As for Tyler Zeller, he's a big guy who plays a relatively weak position. His size and skill around the rim will get him drafted in the first round and enable him to be a consistent contributor for years to come.

And then there's Harrison Barnes. Well, I'm not going to write much but I will say this: Barnes is the safest pick I have ever seen. He has such a high ceiling and such a prosperous bottom that even if he doesn't pan out, he'd still be a valuable role player and leader. The kid is for real.

Just make sure you watch out for two players named James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston.

1. Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats could have four first-round draft picks, including three in the lottery and one going first overall. How could they not be first?

Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have been projected by some to go one and two in the draft, mainly because of their abilities on defense and on the open floor. Davis, of course, is also the best shot blocker in the country.

Terrence Jones and Marquise Teague, meanwhile, are both projected to be mid-to-late first-round draft picks. Jones, however, has the talent to go in the top 10 and become a franchise player.

With Doron Lamb as yet another player bound to be drafted, the Wildcats boast what is easily the deepest and most promising draft class in the nation.