2012 NBA Mock Draft: Studs on a Meteoric Rise to the NBA Lottery

The NCAA tournament provides the few NBA draft prospects a national television audience to improve their draft stock.

There are four players with NBA talent who are red hot heading into the tourney. They can lock up a hefty paycheck with dominant performances in the coming weeks. They will be in italics. 

Let's look into the crystal ball for who will be selected in June’s NBA draft.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, C, Kentucky

Already a stone-cold lock for the top selection. He impacts a ton of shots on the defensive end, has a polished offensive game and he’s only 19.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Jayhawk power forward has a prime opportunity to solidify a top-two selection, which I think he’ll end up being.

Watching him for only a few minutes, even a casual basketball fan notices Robinson’s athleticism and aggressiveness on the court. He has an opportunity to showcase his talents against other potential lottery picks in John Henson and Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) and C.J. Leslie (N.C. State), if the tournament gods orchestrate the matchups.

If he continues to board (11.8 RPG this year) and play above the rim like he’s done all season, Robinson will receive good fortune when David Stern walks to the NBA draft podium. 

He won’t win National Player of the Year (Davis will receive that honor), but if Robinson can carry Kansas deep into the tournament, NBA scouts will be buzzing.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Based on potential, measurement and all of Jay Bilas’s favorite words at the draft, Drummond could be worth this high selection. Inconsistency and questions about his passion for the game, though, are red flags.

4. New Jersey Nets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

The do-it-all small forward has a mature offensive package that will translate to the NBA well. Even better, he can guard both point guards and power forwards.

5. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Sullinger, believe it or not, would bring a level-headed presence to a dysfunctional Sacramento squad. Not to mention a knack for scoring in the painted area.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Toronto needs a flat-out scorer that can take and make big shots. Barnes is that guy.

7. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Once a top pick, Jones has been sliding down the lottery due to inconsistent play. A few inspired performances against potential NBA talent (Mike Moser of UNLV, Miles Plumlee of Duke) would work wonders.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Viewers of last week’s Florida-Kentucky SEC semifinal game witnessed Beal’s efficient play and smooth all-around game. His demeanor never changed when Kentucky bodied him up with top college defenders Kidd-Gilchrist and Doron Lamb. Instead, he relished the competition, exploding for 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, with eight boards and five assists.

Beal arrived in Gainesville lauded for his pure shooting stroke. While he’s gone through some dry spells in his freshman season, he is not an ideal fit for Billy Donovan’s offense. He would be a much more heralded name if he didn’t have Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton controlling the offense.

He’ll be the best player on the court if the Gators face off against Missouri in the Round of 32. A nice showing if the tournament would keep him in the middle of the top 10.

But it is easy to see why Beal will be an effective NBA pro because he can do so many things for his team without having the ball in his hands. He would be the perfect complement to Kyrie Irving in the Cleveland backcourt.

9. Houston Rockets (from NYK): Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

The freshman stud possesses a mid-range jumper that many of the bigs ahead of him do not. He carries himself like a professional, and on the NBA level I expect no different.

10. Utah Jazz (From GSW): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Lamb has had trouble meshing with a loaded UConn backcourt, but the Jazz need guards more than anybody. His silky-smooth athleticism and freakish length could be a matchup nightmare in a few years.

11. Phoenix Suns: Damon Lilliard, PG, Weber State

Unfortunately, Weber St. did not make the NCAA tournament, so we won’t be hearing much about Lilliard until NBA draft talk heats up. But when it does, you’ll want to check out the dynamic scorer who would be a viable option to replace Steve Nash.

12.   Portland Trail Blazers: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

The North Carolina big is a terror defensively, with one of the most freakish wingspans you’ll ever see. He still needs to develop a mid-range game, but potential oozes out of the UNC prospect.

13.  Utah Jazz: Terrence Jones, SF/PF, Kentucky

The mercurial forward has been hovering around the lottery the entire season. A strong tournament showing would encourage teams to believe in the athletic yet emotional forward.

Jones went back to school for another shot at a national championship. This Kentucky team seems like it’s even better than the last, and Jones seems to disappear in games at times because he does not recognize his role. But when he does mesh with this talented Kentucky squad, he’s one of the most influential players on both sides of the floor. In that sense, he is very much like Lamar Odom.

A few significant outings demonstrating a level head, and Jones will be locked in the lottery.

14. New Orleans Hornets (From MIN): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

One of the most complete big men in the nation, Zeller could be a top-10 pick. His placement with the Hornets at 14, however, stems from whether the player on the court today is already at his full potential.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Milwaukee just traded away Andrew Bogut in hopes it’ll come away with a younger option to pair with a backcourt of Montae Ellis and Brandon Jennings. Leonard needs to bulk up, but his size and defensive prowess convince Milwaukee that he’s their guy.

16. New Jersey Nets (From HOU): Quincy Miller, F, Baylor

The Baylor forward brings versatility and a high basketball IQ that would serve any NBA team well. At Baylor, his team is flooded with talent at the forward position, so he has been limited to only 25 minutes per game. Those minutes, however, have been efficient as they come. Miller has been shooting at a 46 percent clip and does a little bit of everything on the defensive end.

Miller will be able to play the 3 and 4 spots for an NBA team without a doubt. He will be getting extended minutes in the NCAA tournament and if he provides a spark, he could see his name in the lottery and even the top 10.

17. Boston Celtics (From LAC): Patric Young, C, Florida

Young would provide a strong defensive presence down low that the Celtics have been missing since Kendrick Perkins left. His offensive game is limited to a right-handed hook shot, but his 7'4" wingspan and athletic ability will intrigue a team to draft him this high.

18. Dallas Mavericks: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

Wroten Jr. is another player absent from the tournament, but the 6'5" point guard is an intriguing prospect that likes to penetrate and has superior court vision. Sounds like the J.J. Barea-type player Dallas misses dearly.

19. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters comes off the bench for ‘Cuse, but he’s a dynamic scorer who loves to go to the rim. The Nuggets need an aggressive penetrator with no fear to round out their rotation.

20. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, PG/SG, Duke

There isn’t a more appropriate fit for Rivers than Boston, unless he has daddy issues. Rivers is more of a scoring guard than a true point guard, but Boston would get an injection of scoring that they desperately need.

21. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

The athletic wing player from Sweden has always been able to jump out of the gym, but in his senior season he has improved his jump shot significantly. He would be a solid and efficient selection that brings it on both ends of the floor.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Ross is a reliable scorer with deep range and defensive tenacity that would fit soundly with Lionel Hollins’s bunch.

23. Philadelphia 76ers: Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Philadelphia’s main weakness is lack of a inside presence. Plumlee brings energy and can make plays without getting many touches.

24. Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson fits the profile for an athletic hard-working big that could bolster Indiana’s front line. Everybody will get to see Nicholson front and center against one of the country’s best defenses in Florida State tomorrow.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

The Lakers could be getting the next Rajon Rondo after they tried to pry Rondo away from Boston. Marshall’s excellent court vision could be scary with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol alongside him.

26. Orlando Magic: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

I can’t predict where Dwight Howard will land, but stockpiling on big men sounds like a solid backup plan.

27. San Antonio Spurs: James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina

McAdoo has played limited minutes at UNC, but if any team can get him up to speed, it's San Antonio.

28. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

The Heat have everything short of a big load in the middle. Ezeli has been hampered by injuries, but he may be a rising star if he provides an inside presence for a dangerous Vanderbilt team.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

The Thunder will be looking for the best player available, which would be Harkless. The freshman forward could spell Kevin Durant and bring his athletic ability to OKC’s second unit.

30. Chicago Bulls: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

A 6'10" big man who plays on the perimeter and crashes the boards. If he can score efficiently, Moultrie will certainly make Derrick Rose happy.

NCAA Tournament Players Who Missed the Cut

John Jenkins-, Vanderbilt; Kevin Jones, West Virginia; Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas; C.J. Leslie, N.C. State; Draymond Green, Michigan State