NBA Draft 2012: Where Do Final Four Stars Rank?

March Madness has not been as crazy and unpredictable this year as in seasons past.

No surprise visitors to this year's annual party.

No Cinderellas crashing this year's Big Dance.

No unlikely teams with unheard of players from the unlikeliest of places.

In New Orleans this Saturday, the 2012 NCAA basketball tournament resumes, and only college basketball's elite teams from power conferences featuring multiple McDonald's All-Americans will be dancing on college basketball's biggest stage.

Let's take a close look at the top 10 biggest stars playing this weekend and determine where they stand in this year's 2012 NBA Draft. 

Without the talent and ability of the following 10 players, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas and Louisville would no longer be competing for a shot at an NCAA basketball championship. 

No. 10 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

My number 10 choice among this weekend's Final Four college basketball stars who will eventually become a first-round NBA draft pick is Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor.

This is the only senior in my top 10.

Taylor displayed the much needed leadership NBA teams require from a point guard. The Kansas star led his Jayhawks squad past the University of North Carolina Tar Heels into the national championship semifinal game against Ohio State with a terrific all-around game.

A very strong and quick point guard, the 6'3", 185 lbs Taylor should be a mid-round pick for an NBA team needing a steady ball handler, capable penetrator and excellent perimeter defender.

Taylor possesses the speed to guard the smaller guards in the league and the upper body strength and length to check the longer, athletic point guards.

Taylor can also score as evidenced by his 16.7 PPG this year with the Jayhawks, but he'll be more of a distributor than a scorer in the NBA.

No. 9 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

My number nine selection among Final Four stars this weekend rests with Ohio State Buckeye swing man Deshaun Thomas.

Like Tyshawn Taylor, the 6'7", 225 lbs sophomore will also be a mid-round NBA draft pick for a team looking for a crafty swing man who can contribute on both ends of the court.

Thomas has proven that he can put up numbers quickly on the offensive end. He's averaged 16.1 PPG on 53 percent shooting and a respectable 35.1 percent from beyond the arc. This Buckeye's shooting touch will also help an NBA team stretch its opposition's defense.

The rangy, athletic Thomas is also a solid defender, having been taught well by Ohio State coach Thad Motta. His ability to guard a two guard as well as a small forward makes Thomas a safe mid-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.  

No. 8 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

My number eight selection from this weekend's Final Four stars is Louisville point guard Peyton Siva.

Though Siva hasn't posted splashy offensive numbers with his 9.1 PPG, NBA scouts love his speed and quickness as well as his ferocious competitive spirit.

Siva is a game changer and difference maker. The smallish 6', 180 lbs point guard has demonstrated that he can break down any defender and consistently get into the lane and finish on bigger, athletic defenders.

He's similar to Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Louisville guard's ability to apply defensive pressure on any spot on the court has helped the Cardinals earn a Final Four spot and will also earn him a job on an NBA roster next fall.

Siva can go from a very good NBA prospect to an excellent one if he improves his shooting, having made only 40 percent of his two-point field goal attempts and only 26 percent of his three-point tries this year.

The Louisville product can learn to become a better shooter, but his amazing quickness and ball handling abilities cannot be taught.

No. 7 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

My next selection may surprise the casual basketball fan but certainly not an NBA scout looking for an athletic, defensively minded big man who is willing to play a key backup role to an established center.

Another Final Four star who should be a mid-round NBA Draft choice is a relatively late bloomer with a promising upside.

The 7', 235 lbs Jeff Withey has played a key role in Kansas' advancing to this weekend's Final Four in New Orleans thanks to his defensive presence, shot blocking ability and ability to pass out of the post.

Withey came one block shy of tying Shaquille O'Neal's NCAA record of 11 blocks in a game. He also showed his defensive mettle by besting North Carolina's tall and athletic frontline of Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Harrison Barnes.

This Kansas junior may be best served to stay another year in Lawrence to hone his passable offensive game, but if he decides to declare early, expect an NBA team with patience to select him.

No. 6 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

My next selection from this weekend's Final Four stars is without doubt the biggest of the bunch.

Ohio State University's starting center packs a load in the paint at 6'9" and 280 lbs. Although he slimmed down dramatically from his freshman season, Sullinger is still an immovable force on the block and an accomplished setter of screens that would make football coach Urban Meyer proud.

Sullinger may have entered college basketball with some of the biggest fan fare last season, but when he leaves Columbus, he may do so with an NCAA championship and a promising NBA career in his future.

What the bruising Sullinger lacks in foot speed and hops, he more than makes up for with court sense, great hands, excellent rebounding ability and a knack for scoring...ugly at times. The Buckeye center scored 17.6 PPG and averaged 9.1 RPG this past season.

His strength will allow him to excel at the higher level as a power forward. And, so may his long range shooting touch. Sullinger surprisingly averaged 42.1 percent from behind the arc and 53 percent from inside the arc. 

No. 5 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

This Kansas Jayhawk power forward ranks as my fifth best 2012 NCAA Final Four NBA prospect...with the emphasis being on "power" in power forward.

Robinson's chiseled, fantastically sculpted physique makes many NBA scouts think of former Utah Jazz Karl "The Mailman" Malone.

However, the more athletically gifted Robinson will deliver his dunks much higher above the rim than Malone ever did.

Robinson should fit in quickly with either an up-tempo style team or a half-court offense style NBA team. He knows how to utilize his impressive strength underneath the basket as well as employ a surprisingly soft touch away from the rim.

The 6'10" Kansas junior averaged 17.7 PPG on a very well balanced Kansas squad, while leading the team in rebounding with 7.6 RPG.

He's also very protective with the basketball, committing less than two turnovers per 32 minutes of playing time per game this year.

No. 4 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

Terrence Jones from the Kentucky Wildcats comes in as my fourth best NBA Draft prospect among this weekend's Final Four stars.

I am so happy this 6'9", 252 lbs power forward stayed an extra year at Kentucky under John Calipari's tutelage because his overall game has matured and improved.

Jones will be a lottery pick whenever he enters the NBA Draft because of his length, athleticism, basketball IQ, dramatically improved defense and 20-foot range on his lefty jumper.

The sophomore's overall numbers are modest with 12 PPG and 7.2 RPG, but remember he plays on a stellar 36-2 team with as many as five other future NBA first-round draft choices.

What stands out for me are Jones' lateral quickness for a 6'9" player and his excellent defensive skills, which helped Kentucky break the all time NCAA shot blocking record for a team in a season. 

Jones is a certain top 10 pick in any NBA Draft and perhaps an NCAA champion too.

No. 3 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

Although he may require the most work offensively among my top 10 future NBA stars in this year's Final Four, Gorgui Dieng's upside is unlimited.

While it behooves the 6'11", 230 lbs Dieng to stay another year at Louisville to work on his offensive skills, the Senegal native will be a lottery pick when he declares.

Dieng reminds many NBA scouts of fellow African-born shot blocker Serge Ibaka because of his quick leaping ability and extraordinary timing.

What Dieng lacks in an offensive repertoire, he more than compensates for in defense. If he doesn't block an opponent's shot, he's either altering it or making them think about it.

Dieng averaged a modest 9.2 PPG and 9 RPG at Louisville this season, but his greatest contribution was the 124 shots he sent back to Cardinals' opponents who had the nerve to attempt them with him around the basket.

No. 2 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist catapulted to my second spot on the list of the 10 best NBA Draft prospects competing in the 2012 Final Four this weekend, even though last week he really wasn't even on my radar.

Wow, have I fallen in love with this young man's game—though just a freshman, he looks and plays like a grown man at 6'7", 232 lbs.

Kidd-Gilchrist proved why he was regarded as one of the top high school seniors last year along with fellow Kentucky Wildcat Anthony Davis. The freshman has averaged 12 PPG and 7.6 RPG this season and has turned the ball over less than twice per contest in Kentucky's high-octane offense.

The freshman has dazzled in this year's NCAA tournament especially in the past two games. Plus, he's demonstrated incredible poise, amazing speed, an ability to make free throws and dogged defensive skill at his shooting guard/small forward position against both Baylor and Indiana.

Kidd-Gilchrist's talent may have been overshadowed at times by playing on such a star-filled Kentucky team, but his draft stock will not be overlooked come NBA Draft time because this kid is a lock as a future NBA Draft lottery pick.

No. 1 Ranking: 2012 Final Four Stars

No drum roll necessary here. No guessing permitted. No creativity required.

Let me just state the obvious when it comes to naming the top star among stars at this year's NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.

Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis is certain to be the top overall pick in whatever NBA Draft he decides to enter. Most NBA insiders expect the 6'10", 230 lbs Davis to declare after next week's Final Four.

For such a young man, Davis can really play...at both ends of the court.

Though known for his incredible shot blocking ability, Davis is much more of a well-rounded, complete player than many casual basketball fans are aware of.

Davis can score and not just on dunks. He averaged 14.3 PPG on 63 percent shooting and displayed a smooth jumper up to 18' from the hoop.

Davis can rebound. He collected 10.3 RPG and three were offensive boards.

Davis can block shots at the rate of three per game.

And, Davis can excel at other cerebral aspects of the game—he only accumulated 1.9 fouls per game and was only disqualified once in 38 games.

The extra tall, athletic young man with the 90" wing span will certainly be an accomplished NBA pro and enjoy a lengthy career, but first he has to lift the NCAA championship trophy with his Kentucky Wildcats teammates this coming weekend. 

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports1

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