Final Four 2012: Aaron Craft and More Unsung Heroes Who Will Emerge as Stars

Every team that reaches the Final Four has at least one player who flies under the radar, but still makes meaningful contributions. These underrated players are usually called unsung heroes, which makes perfect sense because without them, their teams wouldn't have reached this point.

Let's take a look at three players who will finally make a name for themselves with strong showings in New Orleans. While the credit will be long overdue, it's better late than never.

Aaron Craft (Ohio State)

Craft literally does it all for Ohio State. The sophomore guard can run the offense, get to the rim for easy points and, most importantly, defend. He's one of the nation's top perimeter defenders and can shut down any opponent's best outside scorer.

That's more important than ever because of how heavily teams are relying on three pointers to keep games close. Since the Buckeyes have three bona fide stars, led by Jared Sullinger, Craft doesn't get to share the spotlight too often.

It's something that will change after he goes up against Kansas star Tyshawn Taylor on Saturday night. Slowing down Taylor should finally get Craft some attention.

Darius Miller (Kentucky)

Miller is one of only two seniors on Kentucky's roster, making his leadership role more important than anything he does on the court on game day. His ability to keep a young team on the same page can't be overstated.

He's also the team's only bench player who makes a major impact. The Wildcats rely on a very small rotation, so Miller's production allows for at least a couple guys to get a breather to make sure they are still fresh down the stretch.

Kentucky has so much star power that it's not a surprise certain players tend to get overlooked. Miller has fallen into that category this season, but it won't be long until that changes.

Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)

Louisville has made a surprising Final Four run thanks to the team's strong guard play, but Dieng's dominance in the paint has also been key. He has blocked 13 shots during the tournament, including seven against top-seeded Michigan State.

Even though he's only scored 10 points or more once during the Cardinals' hot streak, they still wouldn't have been able to do it without him. Having a gigantic presence down low like him keeps teams honest on the offensive end.

His task against Kentucky will be slowing down Anthony Davis. That matchup gives him an awesome chance to show the entire country how important he has become.