2012 NBA Mock Draft: Overrated Prospects Who Will Flop on Big Stage

We are so close to the end of the NBA regular season and with college basketball finished, the fervor surrounding this year's draft class is reaching a fever pitch. 

The talk of the draft will be about Kentucky's starting five making the leap together, but there are plenty of names worth keeping an eye on. Unfortunately, not all of them will be able to handle the NBA stage. 

It is not the player's fault, just the nature of the beast. Some will work, others will be serviceable and the remainder will be looking for work doing something else. 

Here is a look at our latest mock draft with a special emphasis on those players we don't have high hopes for. 

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Davis will almost singlehandedly save this fledgling franchise with his ability to block shots on defense and score inside.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist has had an inconsistent shooting season, but he gives the Wizards much needed power and athleticism in the backcourt.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn

Despite having the size to be a dominant college player, Drummond never reached the heights that were expected of him. He is just 18 years old, so perhaps he will play smarter as he matures. 

But considering how often he would settle for shots that the defense gave him rather than attack the basket with his 6'10", 270-pound frame, odds are not in his favor. 

4. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes led North Carolina in scoring this past year, but he is not a great shooter and doesn't always play as big as he is. 

Unless the Kings are able to help Barnes tap into his aggressive side, he is not going to succeed in the NBA. He did make strides in his sophomore year, so there is still hope. But he has a long way to go. 

5. Toronto Raptors: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Besides Davis, Robinson is the best bet to make an instant impact and have long-term success. He is physical and will challenge the defense to stop him. 

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn 

Lamb's length help him play bigger than his size. He will be a great complement in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving. 

7. Portland Trail Blazers (from New Jersey): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal is the perfect player for the Blazers. He is aggressive with the ball and has a good shooter's touch. 

8. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Sullinger had to do two things in his second season with the Buckeyes: 1. Add bulk to his frame; 2. Get more aggressive around the basket. He did the former and improved the latter. For a depleted Pistons roster, he is the best choice. 

9. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall's ability to pass the ball will give the Jazz a true point guard for the first time since trading Deron Williams. 

10. New Orleans (from Minnesota): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

A seven-footer who can score double-figures in points and add six rebounds will be a good fit for the Hornets. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Another college stud with great skills who always seemed to let everything bother him. Jones is as talented as any power forward in this class, but he lets all the little things snowball on him. 

When Jones just goes out and plays, he is a top-five pick. He just doesn't do that as often as you would like. He is going to worry about everything that is said about him, and will be unable to find that middle ground. 

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

No one can deny Moultrie's physical skills and brief moments of brilliance in college. The problem is, he never put it all together to really develop into that elite player in the SEC. 

He could be a late bloomer, but at 21 years old, he doesn't get as much of a pass as other players would. 

The Bucks need size in the middle and Moultrie has more upside than almost anyone else, so they have to take him here. Just be prepared to watch him disappoint. 

13. Utah Jazz: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Rivers never turned into the star that some were suggesting he could become, but he has the pedigree and killer instinct that teams love. 

14. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters is the kind of player the Suns love: aggressive with the ball, physical and plays fast. 

15. Houston Rockets (from New York): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

While Lillard is not a great shooter, he can score and his speed creates a lot of problems at the point guard position. He has good touch on his passes. He can be a starter in two years with the right development. 

16. New Jersey Nets (from Houston Rockets): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

If you look at Zeller for what he is and not what he was in college, then he is going to be a serviceable NBA player. He is fast and athletic enough to be a good contributor off the bench and as a part-time starter. 

17. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

The 76ers are already one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Adding Henson would make them as dominant as anyone in the league for a long time. 

18. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s

While the Nuggets are not starved for scorers, Harkless is an intriguing prospect because he is good at getting to the hole. 

Where he doesn't really succeed as an NBA prospect is in his size and ability to shoot the ball. He is really thin right now. There is always a chance he adds some muscle, but today he is not bulky enough to handle the NBA. 

His shot is good, but he doesn't always bring it game in and game out. 

19. Atlanta Hawks: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Jones' versatility makes him a steal with this pick. He may not be a star, but he is going to make an All-Star appearance or two.

20. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

The Celtics need to get younger, more athletic and they need someone who can shoot. Ross is the perfect package for them because he fills all three holes. 

21. New Jersey Nets (via Rockets): Royce White, SF/PF, Iowa State

In one of his recent mock draft write-ups, Chad Ford said that White suffers from social anxiety disorder and a fear of flying. 

I'm not a doctor or anything like that, but those would seem to be two really big problems when performing in front of a crowd and traveling across the country. 

White has the talent to be a star in the NBA, no one can deny that. He doesn't have the mental makeup to handle the rigors of the league. It's not like you'll root against him, but you have to look at things honestly. 

22. Indiana Pacers: Marcus Teague, PG, Kentucky

Even if Teague doesn't become the point guard the Pacers covet, he is a great scorer in the backcourt. They desperately need more of that to become a threat to the Beasts in the East. 

23. Memphis Grizzles: Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas

Despite not being a great shooter at the point, Taylor has value at this spot because of his quickness and ability to attack the basket. 

24. Boston Celtics (from LA Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

One of the most underrated players in this draft class, Nicholson will be the replacement the Celtics need for Kevin Garnett. He won't score as much, but his defense and intensity are virtually identical. 

25. Orlando Magic: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

The Magic need shooters who can contribute on the offensive side of the ball. Taylor is going to give them immediate results. 

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers): Tony Wroten, SG, Washington

Kyrie Irving has been terrific, but he needs another backcourt scoring mate to really help his game take off. 

27. Golden State (from San Antonio Spurs): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

While it is hard to get on Melo without knowing exactly what the problems were when he was with Syracuse, there is something going on that should make the NBA nervous. 

Plus, one-dimensional centers who can't shoot or score tend to end up like Hasheem Thabeet. Melo is a good defender, but I don't see him as a game-changer in the middle. 

28. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, SG, Michigan State

Green may not be anything more than a bench player in the NBA, but his instincts and feel for the game make him a valuable asset. 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky 

Lamb's versatility and ability to shoot the ball from deep will add more firepower to an already loaded Thunder roster. 

30. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Jenkins is basically just a shooter at this point. Considering the Bulls need more players who can stop-and-pop, they don't need Jenkins to be anything more. 

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