2012 NBA Mock Draft: Late-Round Picks That Will Dazzle at Next Level

The close of the college basketball season means it's time to ramp up predictions for the future of the NBA. Here are the players that will soon dominate the professional arenas as well as they did the collegiate ones.

March Madness will soon die a sudden death as a new national champion is crowned. That just means that millions of brackets are in landfills and we now have a semblance of which amateur players are the real deal.

The NCAA Tournament, and to a lesser degree the NIT, have given us ample evidence to who will make an immediate impact at the next level.

Here is a mock draft, highlighting the late round gems that will dominate the NBA.

Order based on current standings and projected finish.

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

The Bobcats crave a star player that can bring the fans out and actually turn this franchise around. Anthony Davis shows all the promise of a perennial All-Star that can score and has defensive talents of note. 

2.  Washington Wizards – Andre Drummond, C, UConn

Yes, there were bigger stars in the tourney, but time will be on Drummond's side. You simply can't pass up on a big man with this much promise. 

3. New Orleans Hornets – Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC

It's rare to find a player that is this polished already on offense. Barnes can create his own shot and has the most consistent perimeter game around. The best part is that he will only get better. 

4. Portland Trail Blazers (Via NJ) – Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Lamb is slipping on draft boards but I am convinced that he is a clutch player that wants the ball when it matters. The Blazers are getting a player with a passion to win, and that will bode well for the future. 

5. Toronto Raptors – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger may have question marks on his size and athleticism, but the tournament has been kind on his draft stock. He is a versatile big man that can work the perimeter and stretch the court, creating space with his dangerous jumper.  

6.  Sacramento Kings – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

I fully expect MKG to continue up the board and think he is on the cusp of a solid top-5 pick. Anthony Davis gets the headlines but Kidd-Gilchrist is a winner, plain and simple.  

7. Detroit Pistons – Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Thomas Robinson has been lost among the shuffle of big men. Forget Perry Jones III, because Robinson is a big that already has the frame and tenacity to matter on any NBA roster. 

8. Cleveland Cavaliers – Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

The Cavalier continue to grow in a smart and measured way with a pure scorer that can play the wing with an exciting set of skills. 

9. Utah Jazz (via GS from NJ) – Tyler Zeller, C, UNC

I like Zeller's talent offensively but love what he brings on the inside defensively. He just needs to be more aggressive on that end of the floor and add some bulk.   

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Perry Jones III, F, Baylor

Look, he is the total package that will get more love as the draft day gets closer. He may have been inconsistent in the tournament, but you can't discount the length and footwork on this beast in the middle. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers – Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is as versatile big man that gives the Blazers someone in the middle to groom for the future. Portland has had too many issues with their depth down low to pass up on a player like Moultrie. 

12. New Orleans Hornets (via LAC from MIN) – Damian Lillard, PG, Weber St.

The Hornets will be glad when this tumultuous year is over. If they land Barnes, getting a jump shooter in Lillard would complete a successful early round. 

13. Phoenix Suns – Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Austin Rivers has a lot to prove as many thought he needed one more year in college. With that being said, he still has the talents to have clubs look past his raw game and inconsistent shooting. 

14. Denver Nuggets – Tony Wroten, G, Washington

This might have been a reach a couple of weeks ago, but Wroten has shown great poise and ability in Washington's ride through the NIT. His court vision and offensive prowess make him intriguing on the Nuggets roster. 

15. Houston Rockets (via NYK) – Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

This is a simple case of picking the best player at the time. The Rockets crave a superstar and was the impetus of them looking at a Pau Gasol trade all year. Jones is that complete player that will blossom into an All-Star. 

Forget his size and talent for a second, because he has both. The main reason to believe in this guy is his tenacity and confidence on the floor. 

We start our late-round highlights early, simply because Jones is that good. A few mocks have him as out of the lottery, and we just don't see that at this point. 

16. Utah Jazz – Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC

A great facilitator that sees the floor better than anyone else, he was sorely missed by UNC when he went down with a wrist injury. 

17. New Jersey Nets (via HOU) – Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt 

Jeffery Taylor showed the one thing that makes NBA scouts happy, and that is dedication. Taylor showed marked improvement this past year and should be a solid first rounder. 

18. Boston Celtics – Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters has immense confidence that sometimes works against his raw game. A season or two on the bench will work wonders on a great team like the Celtics. 

19. Philadelphia 76ers – Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

It may be a reach, but Leonard is a big man that runs the floor well and is comfortable in his own body. He is a raw gem that is worth the gamble. 

20. Memphis Grizzlies – John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

He comes in with questions on his size, but you can't question his ability to make it rain from anywhere on the court. 

21. Houston Rockets Via (Dallas Mavericks) – John Henson, PF, UNC

Late-Round Star

John Henson could really land just about anywhere, and it will be interesting to see how the draft process treats his offensive game. 

He still needs to work on a consistent shot, but there is no denying his defensive acumen. Henson is a workhorse that will only get better with training. 

With defense making him a mainstay, the rest of his game will come around in no time. 

22. Boston Celtics (via LAC from OKC) – Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

The Celtics need size, and Melo comes in with length and the ability to change shots in the paint.  

23. Atlanta Hawks – Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas

Tony Mitchell improved his perimeter game and is my dark horse to sneak into the first round. 

24. Indiana Pacers – Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s

He is a cagey defender that can be a beast to handle. He needs polish, but is a well-rounded wing player that will fit in beautifully with the Pacers. 

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL) – Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Mason Plumlee does the little things, but that is hardly a reason to throw a parade. He still needs to show that he can handle some measure of the offense.   

26. Orlando Magic – Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Has a solid offensive game that just needs some work in the decision-making department. The tournament has shown that he has the ability to flourish at the next level. 

27. Golden State (via SA) – Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Late-Round Star

The knock on Lamb is that he is a bit of a tweener, but that will hardly matter to the Warriors who would be getting volatile guard that can flat out score. 

He has a sweet shot but showed in the tournament that he has no issue with getting into the paint and finishing at the rim. 

With Monta Ellis no longer in town, it's time to gamble that Lamb can put it all together and be a star right next to Stephen Curry. 

28. Miami Heat – Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Here is another big that needs time to work some polish into his game, but a big man that can rebound and block shots is hard to pass on.  

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Draymond Green, F, Michigan State

Late-Round Star

Draymond Green moves to the back of the board with questions on his size and athleticism. This will call into question how he will handle the defensive end at the next level.

This is when we have to bring up the intangibles Green brings as a natural leader and a workhorse on and off the court.

He has a natural knack for rebounding and can shoot consistently, making him a treasure of the late first round.  

30. Chicago Bulls – Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia

He may be streaky, but the big man can get red hot from distance, making him a perfect young talent they can groom.  

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