NIT 2012: 4 Best NBA Prospects Still In Action

It's not the Big Dance, but there is still a healthy amount of future NBA players competing in the NIT. Sometimes, a long run is an extended audition for collegiate players still building their resume for NBA scouts.

In 2006, Renaldo Balkman won tournament MVP for South Carolina. That performance played a big part in getting him drafted in the first round, 20th overall.

This year, there are a few players who will ultimately have their names called by the commissioner.

Of the players still active, here are the four best prospects:

Aaron White: Iowa

White isn't a run-and-jump athlete, but he simply gets it done. He went for 25 points and 11 rebounds against the favored Dayton Flyers in the Hawkeyes' 11-point victory in the first round. 

At 6'8", 235 pounds, White has good size for the small forward, but he isn't quite athletic enough to defend most threes in the NBA.

That said, if you add in his prowess in the post and his shooting touch, he can be a solid player. White is only a freshman; if you consider where he'll be as a junior or senior, he will have turned some heads by that time.

Great fundamentals and a solid work ethic will allow him to maximize his potential.

I definitely see a future for him in the NBA.

Chaz Williams: UMass

The Minutemen have made a surprising run in the NIT thus far, and much of it can be attributed to Williams' play. He has averaged 24 points, six assists and 7.5 rebounds per game, and he's only 5'9".

Before you write him off, know this, Williams is a blur and as ferocious as they come as a competitor. His quickness is on an elite level already, and the kid is all muscle. He plays with an edge, and the Nate Robinson comparisons are inevitable because he has sick hops as well.

He shoots over 40 percent from three, and he's only a sophomore. If he's wise, he'll give it at least one more year in school, and he could be a first-round pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

Tony Wroten: Washington

Wroten is struggling in the NIT, and it's mainly because of his poor shooting. He is a big PG at 6'5" who has the athleticism and size to penetrate and create with ease. His only issue is his shooting.

He made only 17 percent of his threes this season. The good thing is that he's only a freshman. Some still have him slotted to come out this season, but if he stays at least one more season to work on his shot, he'll be a lottery pick in 2013.

The size and athleticism for the PG spot is rare; if he adds a dependable jump shot, he'll be an elite prospect.

Terrance Ross: Washington

The Huskies are the favorites to take the NIT, and their guards are the biggest reason. Ross is a senior with good athleticism and a perfect shooting guard's build. At 6'6", 200 pounds, he looks like the prototype.

He has exploded in the tournament, averaging 27.5 points per game through two games. Some have him projected as a mid-first rounder this season. If he continues this pace in the NIT and pre-draft camps, his stock could rise further.