NCAA Bracket 2012: Every Remaining Team's Hottest NBA Prospect

March Madness isn't just some clever marketing scheme—it's real.

The NCAA Tournament, on a yearly basis, is filled with insanely unlikely upsets, big-time players who wilt under the pressure and others you've never heard of that come out of nowhere and capture a nation's attention.

As we enter the third round of the 2012 edition, lets take a look at those left standing and which players are making people, including those in the NBA, take notice.

Baylor: Quincy Miller, F

Depending on who you ask, 6'8 freshman Quincy Miller has been projected to go anywhere from late in the lottery to the beginning of the second round of the NBA draft.

Although teammate Perry Jones III is the more polished player, Jones struggled mightily against South Dakota while Miller had a solid game, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds.

A 45 percent shooter on the season, scouts will be looking to see if Miller can increase his production against Colorado in the next round, something that would solidify his place in the first round of the draft.

Cincinnati: Yancey Gates, PF

A physical presence at 6'9, 270 pounds, senior Yancy Gates uses his size to his advantage in the paint, ripping down rebounds and keeping attackers away from the rim.

Against No. 11 Texas, Gates had 15 points (7-of-12 from the field), 12 rebounds and three blocks, showing off a mid-range jumper that is somewhat surprising for someone his size but necessary considering his lack of a developed low-post game.

His next matchup, with No. 3 Florida State and their 6'10" PF Bernard James, should be a good one to watch. The winner could find himself drafted in the middle of the second round, while the other may slip to the end of the second round or go undrafted altogether.

Colorado: Andre Roberson, SF

A tough defender with a nose for the ball, 6'7" Andre Roberson had an excellent sophomore campaign for the Colorado Buffaloes. Their second-leading scorer during the season with 11.6 points on 50 percent shooting, Roberson led the team in rebounds (11.2), steals (1.2) and blocked shots (1.9).

Against the favored UNLV Rebels, Roberson continued his strong play, scoring 12 points on 40 percent shooting with 16 rebounds and two blocked shots. He did turn the ball over five times, which was uncharacteristic for him and something he will look to improve upon against Baylor.

That being said, Roberson's defensive acumen translates well to the next level, but another year spent at Colorado would likely benefit his NBA aspirations. Were he to come out following this season, he'd likely be no better than a mid-second-round pick.

Creighton: Doug McDermott, SF

A borderline NBA prospect, 6'7" sophomore Doug McDermott had himself a double-double against the more well-known JaMychal Green and No. 9 Alabama, finishing with 16 points (6-of-12 from the field) and 10 rebounds.

McDermott will have his hands full with James Michael McAdoo and No. 1 North Carolina next, but a strong performance even in a losing effort could warrant him second-round consideration.

Florida: Bradley Beal, G

There really is no weakness in Bradley Beal's game.

Against No. 10 Virginia, the 6'5" freshman guard scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting while pulling down 11 rebounds. He has ridiculous range on his shot and is confident shooting from anywhere on the floor.

He's already projected to be a lottery pick in the draft, but another strong game in the tournament, which is completely feasible against No. 15 Norfolk State, could push Beal into the top five of the 2012 draft class.

Florida State: Bernard James, PF

Yes, Bernard James is 27 years old, but when you spend six years in the United States Air Force, you tend to get to college later than most.

A 6'10" senior, James was outstanding against the upstart No. 14 St. Bonaventure Bonnies, who battled the Seminoles to the wire in their opening game of the tourney. James finished with 19 points (8-of-11 from the field) with nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

The only thing keeping James, a tenacious defender and explosive leaper, from being a first-round pick is his age.

Georgetown: Otto Porter, G/F

An excellent ball-handler, 6'8" freshman Otto Porter had an excellent game against No. 14 Belmont, contributing 16 points (6-of-7 from the field) and eight rebounds.

A long, wiry wing, Porter was already projected to be selected towards the end of the first round. If he's able to continue his hot touch from the field and show a consistent mid-range shot, he could find himself more of a mid-round pick.

Gonzaga: Kevin Pangos, PG

Remember Dan Dickau?

That's who freshman Kevin Pangos reminds many people of, having led Gonzaga in scoring (13.8), assists (3.4) and steals (1.2) while shooting over 40 percent from the field, including from behind the arc.

Pangos showed off his excellent range against No. 10 West Virginia, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting (2-of-4 from three-point range) to go along with five assists.

Only a freshman, Pangos would probably be best served by returning to Gonzaga for at least another year. Then again, if he can lead the Zags past No. 2 Ohio State and into the Sweet 16, he may decide to capitalize on his new-found recognition from NBA scouts.

Indiana: Cody Zeller, PF/C

You can't teach height, and 6'11" Indiana freshman Cody Zeller has plenty of that.

Zeller led the Hoosiers in scoring (15.4), rebounding (6.4) and blocked shots (1.2) this season, and the skilled big man did not disappoint against New Mexico State. He scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds, four assists and six steals—one more than the entire New Mexico State team had.

He will go up against 7'0" D.J. Haley and VCU in the next round. Expectations are that he will continue to show why some feel he is a better player than his older brother, Tyler Zeller of North Carolina.

A skilled scorer around the basket, Zeller would likely be a lottery pick if he were to declare for the draft following this season, but another year in college with some added muscle could launch him into the top half of the lottery next season.

Iowa State: Royce White, PF

He might not be a household name, but 6'8" sophomore Royce White led Iowa State in points (13.1), rebounds (9.2), assists (5.2), steals (1.2) and blocks (0.9) while shooting 52 percent from the field during the regular season.

Going up against Andre Drummond and UConn, White continued his strong play, racking up 15 points and 13 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting. It only gets more challenging for the 270-pound White in the next round, as his Cyclones will battle Anthony Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats in their next game.

White would likely benefit from spending another season under the tutelage of coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff, but a strong performance against the Wildcats could push him into the late first round of this year's draft.

Kansas: Thomas Robinson, F

Already considered to be one of the most complete players in the country, 6'9" junior Thomas Robinson had another double-double as No. 2 Kansas dispatched No. 15 Detroit. Robinson had 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists while shooting 54 percent from the field.

Strong on the glass and an excellent defender, Robinson is a lock to be a top 10 pick. The deeper he is able to take the Jayhawks, the higher his stock could rise.

Kansas State: Rodney McGruder, G

Kansas State's leading scorer this season with 15.4 points per game, 6'4" Rodney McGruder opened some eyes against Southern Mississippi in Kansas State's 70-64 win.

McGruder kept Kansas State in the game, scoring 18 of his game-high 30 points before halftime, when the Wildcats took a three-point lead into the locker room, 30-27. He shot nearly 70 percent from the field (11-of-16), a number that includes a 6-of-8 performance from behind the arc.

A career 40-percent shooter from three-point range, McGruder may have worked his way onto NBA draft boards as a legitimate option in the second round.

Kentucky: Anthony Davis, PF/C

On a team full of future NBA players, Anthony Davis stands alone as a man among boys, which is saying something considering that he just turned 19 years old last Sunday.

The teen scored 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and seven blocked shots in Kentucky's 81-66 win over Western Kentucky.

Davis, who averaged a double-double on the season (14.3 points, 10 rebounds), only reaffirmed what NBA scouts have been saying about the 6'10" forward since his senior year in high school: he will be the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and whatever team selects him will be getting a centerpiece to build around for the next decade.

Lehigh: C.J. McCollum, G

One of the country's most prolific scorers the past two seasons, junior C.J. McCollum was already on NBA radars. After leading Lehigh to an unexpected upset over Duke, McCollum will see his stock is ticking upward.

McCollum dropped 30 points (9-of-24 from the field) on Duke, along with six rebounds, six assists and two steals. He was 10-of-16 from the charity stripe and 2-of-7 from behind the arc. The fifth-leading scorer in the country this season with 21.9 points per game, McCollum also led Lehigh in rebounds (6.5) and steals (2.3).

At only 6'3", McCollum lacks ideal size for a 2-guard in the NBA, but his talents at both ends of the floor make him a legitimate NBA prospect. Another big-time performance against a tough Xavier team could make him as a mid-to-late-first-round pick in the draft.

Louisville: Peyton Siva, G

Peyton Siva has been on a tear since the Big East tournament started, averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 assists over the five-game run.

That run includes Louisville's 69-62 win over Davidson, when Siva had 17 points and six assists while shooting 58 percent from the floor (7-of-12).

Undersized for a point guard at the next level, Siva has excellent court vision and is a lock-down defender. If Louisville is able to continue their winning ways, Siva could find himself riding the wave into the end of the first round of the draft should the junior decide to declare.

Marquette: Jae Crowder, G/F

As with a number of the teams remaining in the field, Marquette likely has multiple future NBA players on their squad, namely Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, the 2012 Big East Player of the Year.

Crowder dominated BYU to the tune of 25 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and four steals on 50 percent shooting from the field and from behind the arc. A 6'6" senior, Crowder is an excellent defender who averaged 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals for Marquette during the regular season.

Likely a second-round pick in the draft, Crowder could continue to move towards the end of the first round with another dominating performance against Murray State.

Michigan State: Draymond Green, SF

Draymond Green may have catapulted himself into the lottery with his second career NCAA Tournament triple-double—the first player to record two since Magic Johnson.

Already projected to be a mid-to-late-first-round pick, Green scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists—only furthering the notion that he is one of the best passing forwards in the country.

At 6'6", 235 pounds, Green is not an explosive athlete, and he tends to play below the rim. Regardless, he has an excellent shot from in close and behind the arc. As the Spartans advance in the tournament, so will Green's draft stock.

Murray State: Donte Poole

Isaiah Canaan might be Murray State's most talented player, but he lacks true NBA size at only 6'0". Coupled with a tough shooting day in the first round (5-of-13 from the field, including 1-of-6 from behind the arc), his borderline NBA aspirations may be disappearing before our eyes.

Donte Poole, a 6'3" senior guard who played most of the second half of their game against Colorado State with a broken nose, is a strong defensive player who scored 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting (2-of-6 from three-point range).

Poole will be hard-pressed to continue to impress against Jae Crowder and Marquette, but if he is able to put together another solid performance, he could find himself sneaking into the bottom half of the second round in the upcoming NBA draft.

New Mexico: Drew Gordon, PF

A 6'8", 235-pound senior, Drew Gordon was a borderline NBA prospect entering the tournament.

While he led the Lobos in scoring (13.5) and rebounding (11.0) during the season, Gordon has no low-post game to speak of and his footwork is questionable at best. But what he lacks in low-post refinement he makes up for with an excellent mid-range jumper and a nose for rebounding and blocking shots.

Against Long Beach State, Gordon had his usual double-double performance, contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting.

The best-case scenario for Gordon is the second round.

Norfolk State: Kyle O'Quinn, PF/C

A 6'10" senior, Kyle O'Quinn has been a consistent contributor for Norfolk State over the past three seasons. O'Quinn led the Spartans in scoring (16.2), rebounding (10.5) and blocks (2.7) while shooting 58 percent from the field.

Against No. 2 Missouri, O'Quinn had the best game of his career on the biggest stage of them all, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. He missed two free throws at the end of the game that would have locked up the victory for his team, but Missouri's Paul Pressey missed a three-pointer as time expired, giving the Spartans the win.

Up next is a matchup with Patric Young and the Florida Gators. If O'Quinn is able to perform as he did against the Tigers against a legitimate NBA prospect like Young, he could find himself moving up draft boards across the NBA.

North Carolina: James Michael McAdoo, F

With John Henson watching from the bench, James Michael McAdoo scored a career-best 17 points (6-of-14 from the field) along with six rebounds and four steals against No. 16 Vermont.

Already considered to be a lottery selection, the longer Henson sits out, the higher that the freshman with a 7'1" wingspan will climb up draft boards.

North Carolina State: Richard Howell, F

Richard Howell, who averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds for NC State this year, had an uncharacteristic game against No. 6 San Diego State, only pulling down two rebounds while scoring 22 points on 80 percent shooting (10-of-12 from the field).

Likely a second-round pick, Howell could move up into the early part of the second round if he can maintain the scoring while increasing his rebounds.

Ohio: D.J. Cooper, G

Only 5'11", D.J. Cooper came through with a big game against the heavily favored No. 4 Michigan Wolverines, scoring 21 points (7-of-11 from the field) and dishing five assists in No. 13 Ohio's upset win.

His next game against No. 12 South Florida and 6'1 Anthony Collins should be an entertaining one to watch, as another strong performance could push Cooper onto teams' draft boards in the second round.

Ohio State: Deshaun Thomas, F

Against No. 15 Loyola (MD), Deshaun Thomas picked up the slack left behind by Jared Sullinger, going off for 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting. He pulled down seven offensive rebounds—12 overall—and threw in two blocks for good measure.

Sullinger may be the higher pick in the draft, but Thomas is creating a lot of buzz with his play. A similar performance against Gonzaga could send his draft stock soaring, making him a lock to be drafted.

Purdue: Terone Johnson, G

Terone Johnson utilized his speed and slashing ability to put up 21 points (9-of-13 shooting), four rebounds and five assists in No. 10 Purdue's three-point win over No. 7 Saint Mary's.

A solid defender, Johnson is on the radar of NBA scouts and could work his way onto the draft boards of teams looking to add depth to their backcourt in the second round.

Saint Louis: Kwamain Mitchell

Calling Kwamain Mitchell a NBA prospect is a stretch, but that would be the case for anyone on Rick Majerus' Saint Louis squad, who truly do not have a NBA-caliber player on their roster.

At the very least, Mitchell made some scouts write his name down with his 22-point performance against Memphis, one that included 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc.

South Florida: Victor Rudd Jr., F

With Gus Gilchrist having an awful game, 6'7" sophomore Victor Rudd Jr. took matters into his own hands, scoring 17 points—12 from behind the arc (4-of-6) and five from the line (5-of-6)—to go along with seven rebounds and two steals.

More games like that will allow Rudd to work his way into the second round of the draft.

Syracuse: Dion Waiters, G

Waiters did not have his best game in Syracuse's near loss to No. 16 UNC Asheville, but no player on the Orange has more buzz around his on-court play than the 6'4" sophomore.

An explosive athlete who attacks the rim without fear, Waiters scored 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, missing four of his five three-point attempts. That being said, with Fab Melo not playing and Kris Joseph not really an exciting NBA prospect to begin with, Waiters is the straw that stirs the drink for Syracuse.

Vanderbilt: John Jenkins, G

Vanderbilt will likely see both John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor in the NBA at some point in the not-so-distant future, but it was Jenkins who stood out during the Commodores' 79-70 win over Harvard.

Jenkins, who likely would have been taken in last year's draft, scored a game-high 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting (3-of-8 from behind the arc), showing deep range from the perimeter and reaffirming the belief that he is the best pure shooter in college this season.

Whether or not he'll be able to defend bigger, faster off-guards in the NBA remains to be seen, but there is no questioning his offensive acumen or ability to create space for himself off of screens.

While Jenkins was projected as a late first-round pick entering the tournament, another strong performance against Wisconsin could see him climb a few spots into the late teens of the upcoming NBA draft.

VCU: Bradford Burgess, G

While his overall numbers are down from last year when VCU made their improbable run to the Final Four and scouts began to take notice, the 6'6" senior has continued his solid all-around play for the Rams this season.

Burgess scored 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting to go along with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block against Wichita State, with no shot bigger than his three-pointer with 1:33 left on the clock that gave VCU the lead for good at 60-59.

A good athlete with decent shot and the ability to penetrate, Burgess is likely a second-round pick in the draft.

Wisconsin: Jordan Taylor, PG

Jordan Taylor can do a little bit of everything—he just doesn't do anything exceptionally well.

A smart guard with a solid shot, Taylor had an all-around excellent game for No. 4 Wisconsin against No. 14 Montana, scoring 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting along with eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and no turnovers.

Another well-rounded performance against Vanderbilt could push the 6'1" senior into the second round of the draft.

Xavier: Tu Holloway, PG

Tu Holloway declared for last year's NBA draft before withdrawing his name right before the deadline, and another year in college has done little to change how NBA scouts view him.

He is still undersized at 6'0", he still dribbles too much, and his jump shot has not gotten more consistent.

That being said, the positives in Holloway's game outweigh the negatives. Holloway is a dynamic scorer who utilizes his quick first step to penetrate and finish at the rim. He has excellent court vision and is a tough on-the-ball defender.

Against Notre Dame, Holloway showed how good he can be when his shot is falling, scoring 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-4 from behind the arc.

He projects as a second-round pick in the draft, but the senior could work his way into the bottom of the first round if he is able to carry Xavier past Lehigh and into the Sweet 16.