2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where Will the NCAA's Most Hyped Stars Land?
If anything, March Madness has taught us that there's an insane amount of talent in the college game right now. The talent level could be as good as it has ever been, which means this summer's NBA Draft will be packed with talent.
Along with the talent comes the hype, though, and some of these guys who will be declaring for the draft have been borderline over-hyped all season long.
Let's take a look at our latest mock and where some of the most hyped guys in the collegiate game will land.
As usual, the Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Davis may have the most hype of any potential NBA prospect, but he's shown so far that he could be capable of living up to all the hype.
He's got the ability to dominate at both ends of the floor, especially at the defensive end, where he's one of the best shot-blockers to come through the collegiate game in quite some time.
Offensively, Davis is a guy with a pretty solid post game. He's an excellent finisher around the rim, shooting more than 63 percent from the floor on the season.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
When you play on a team that's 36-2 and two wins away from a National Championship, there's going to be a ton of hype around their best players. That's the case with Kidd-Gilchrist, who's a do-it-all type of player.
MKG as near of a can't-miss guy as there is in the draft. He's a high character guy who has a great skill set, plus the ability to not only score but also rebound, pass and play defense.
It's his defense that draws rave reviews, though, as Kidd-Gilchrist has the ability to become a defensive stopper in the NBA.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas
Robinson stands 6'10" and has the chance to be one of the top forwards off the board.
He's shown so far in the tournament why he's highly guarded: He has a solid back-to-the-basket game, coupled with outstanding leaping ability and a motor that doesn't quit.
Robinson backed everything up, averaging 17.7 PPG and 11.8 RPG this season while leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four.
4. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, Connecticut
Drummond's potential to be a dominant post player is too much to pass on here for the Blazers.
5. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
Toronto has its first-round pick from last season coming in center Jonas Valanciunas, so it's basically as if the Raptors are getting two Top Five picks this year.
Adding Barnes to the mix gives them the scoring they are really missing right now. The North Carolina product can shoot it, despite his struggles in the final two tournament games of the season. Barnes is a slasher as well as a shooter, and he can give Toronto a legitimate No. 1 scoring option for a change.
6. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Sullinger shouldn't make it past Sacramento, who could pair him with DeMarcus Cousins to form a potentially dominant frontcourt.
There were questions about whether or not Sullinger could play against good competition, but he's put together a solid tournament and answered some of those questions.
We like his touch around the basket and his big frame. Sullinger's also adept to cleaning up shots, as he's always active in the post, which could be big on a team with young guards.
7. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina
Henson's got great ability. He's long, athletic and can run the floor. Henson will be a decent offensive player, but he can really make an impact at the defensive end of the floor.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, Florida
Beal's our top shooting guard on the board for the first time all season, but not for the reasons most would think.
Beal had a better tournament run, so we bumped him up, but for those who think he's a lights-out shooter from the perimeter, he's really not; Beal connected on only 34 percent of his three-point attempts this season.
What he is, though, is a solid overall guard who can get his shots in a variety of ways, and he's hands-down the best rebounding guard in the draft. Beal is going to be a solid pro and should give Cleveland a very nice backcourt for the future with Kyrie Irving.
9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Lamb gets edged out by Beal as the top 2-guard off the board, but not by much. He's still a legitimate volume scorer in the NBA after posting 17.7 PPG this season at UConn and shooting nearly the same percentage from behind the arc as Beal.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Zeller's stock is way up after a solid tournament. He's a tremendous athlete and a legitimate center prospect.
Zeller runs the floor great and uses his size to his advantage, posting a solid 16.3 PPG and 9.6 RPG this season. He upped that to an impressive 15.0 PPG and 12.3 RPG during the tournament.
A good athlete with excellent leaping skills, Zeller's got a bright future ahead of him.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Weber State
Lillard is the top point guard on the floor, and with reason. He's a volume scorer at 24.5 PPG, but he gets his shots within the flow of the offense.
Lillard could be the floor general of the future for the Blazers.
12. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Cody Zeller, Indiana
Zeller gives the Hornets a solid guy in the middle with a good feel for the game at such a young age. He's got solid footwork and a good post game, but Zeller has a great mid-range game that could be a weapon in the NBA.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, Duke
Being the son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, the Duke freshman entered school with a ton of hype. While he may have not lived up to all of that, Austin did show that he's pretty talented.
He's got no fear as a shooter and isn't afraid of the big moment. Austin is not just a shooter, though; he's got a tremendously quick first step and is a creative finisher around the basket.
With a high basketball IQ, Austin could become a very gifted NBA scorer.
14. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State
Moultrie is a solid big man who can play either the 4 or the 5 and can become an explosive scorer from anywhere on the floor.
15. Houston Rockets (via New York): Meyers Leonard, Illinois
Leonard is a true seven-footer with improving offensive skills. He's going to have to add some muscle along the way, but he can do a lot of damage on the block.
16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Perry Jones III, Baylor
Jones has a ton of hype around him, but hasn't lived up to it on a consistent basis.
His skill set is amazing. He runs the floor like a deer and can jump through the roof, but the production isn't always there, which is a concern.
When he's going well, Jones is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor at anytime and can also dominate the glass. But when he's not going well, you barely even know he's on the floor.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, Washington
Ross is a solid shooter the Timberwolves really need. He's also not afraid to put the ball on the deck and get to the rim.
18. Boston Celtics: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
The Celtics could use a solid big man here, but with the top big guys already off the board, they can't go wrong with grabbing a player like Jones.
Jones has a nice skill set that says he could be a future NBA star. What separates him from most guys at his position is that he produces in traffic, getting a ton of points and rebounds after contact.
Offensively, Jones can score at all three levels, which is a nice gift to have, especially in Boston where the ball hasn't gone through the basket nearly enough this season.
19. Memphis Grizzlies: Dion Waiters, Syracuse
Waiters would be a solid pick for a Memphis team that continues to add quality pieces. He's not exactly an NBA point guard, but Waiters is a combo guard who can provide energy and a good bit of scoring.
20. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Tony Wroten, Washington
Another combo guard who can back up both guard positions right off the bat, Wroten is a stat sheet stuffer who averaged an impressive 16.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.8 APG and 1.9 SPG as a freshman.
21. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, Vanderbilt
The Celtics are going to need some shooting, and Jenkins can light it up from a distance. He's the best pure shooter in the college game and has the numbers to back that up, connecting on nearly 44 percent (306-of-699) of his shots from behind the arc throughout his collegiate career.
22. Philadelphia 76ers: Moe Harkless, St. John's
Harkless has the ability to be an explosive scorer and rebounder from the wing. There's a ton of upside with this pick for the Sixers.
23. Indiana Pacers: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Marshall is a true floor general who makes his teammates better just by being on the floor. He's got a high basketball IQ, and his head is always up. Marshall makes passing look effortless and excels in both transition and the half-court set.
His scoring isn't great, and he doesn't always show up at the defensive end, but the kid has talent and could be a top point guard in the league before long.
24. Atlanta Hawks: Draymond Green, Michigan State
Green had a fantastic NCAA tournament, averaging 17.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 6.0 APG throughout the Spartans' run, which included a triple-double and a pair of double-doubles.
Watching Green, he may seemed undersized, and he doesn't wow you by any means, but the guy knows how to play, and he produces. There's nothing on the floor that he doesn't do well, and that should translate into a solid pro career.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt
Taylor not only has the potential to be a solid defender but he's got a good offensive game as well. He can put his head down, get to the paint and he also has an improving perimeter shot.
26. Orlando Magic: Royce White, Iowa State
White showed a lot in the tournament against both UConn and Kentucky. He's tough, and he's not afraid to battle. White has good size to play either the 3 or 4, but he runs the floor like a guard.
27. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Kris Joseph, Syracuse
As a solid, well-coached player, Joseph can help the Warriors at both ends of the floor and can likely give them more production than they are currently getting from the small forward position.
28. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
This is a good pick for the future.
Ezeli's got good size, he can rebound and he can block shots right now. His offensive game is a work in progress, but Ezeli's got some talent.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson has an NBA future. He's a solid double-double guy with improving skills.
30. Chicago Bulls: Alex Young, IUPUI
The Bulls could use some additional scoring, and Young is certainly a scorer, averaging 20.4 PPG and 5.9 RPG. He could turn into Chicago's second scoring option before long.
