NBA Draft 2012: Comparing Every Slated First-Round Pick to a Current Pro

The NCAA championship game is tonight, and with teams loaded with NBA prospects facing off, it seems like the perfect time to look at who some of these first-round talents are striving to be.

Between Kentucky and Kansas, there are at least five first-round picks who will be on the court tonight. Three players are top-five talents, and two more have a chance to break into the lottery with a surge in draft stock in the coming months.

With a draft so full of potential, it's always fun to pick out current NBA players who compare to what these prospects could be one day.

The following are 20 no-doubt, bona fide first rounders in this year's draft—assuming all of these guys decide to split for pro ball—and their NBA projections. 

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: Marcus Camby/Jermaine O'Neal

The trend lately has been people ceasing to compare Anthony Davis to Marcus Camby and starting to compare him to Tim Duncan, which has a bit of merit. 

Defensively, the two are one in the same—they are smart, can block shots like nobody's business and are rebound hounds. But the offensive comparison just isn't there yet. He could get there, but Tim Duncan showed off those offensive tendencies he has today in college, whereas most of Davis' offense has come from his athleticism. 

Because of Davis' build and his nose for the ball, it still makes sense to compare him to Camby.

The one comparison left that I've heard far less often is to that of a young Jermaine O'Neal. Both are masters on defense, but Davis has a higher basketball IQ. O'Neal at the peak of his potential is definitely a fair projection. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala

As far as I'm concerned, only Thomas Robinson has helped his draft case more than Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in this year's tournament, as the Wildcat has showed off incredible hustle and determination.

Kidd-Gilchrist has a level of intensity on defense that has yet to be matched by any other player in the tournament, and his ability to get to the hoop as a part of the offensive system for Kentucky has been icing on the cake for scouts.

His motor, athleticism and streaky shooting tendencies likens him to Andre Iguodala. However, if we want to talk about ceiling as a player, this fellow has Scottie Pippen written all over him. Only time will tell.

Andre Drummond, UConn

NBA Comparison: DeAndre Jordan

Andre Drummond is going to be the forbidden fruit that must be tasted near the top of the draft.

A seven-footer with this much athleticism is scary to imagine, and it's why he's gotten some Amar'e Stoudemire comparisons. However, with the lack of a jumper that he's shown coupled with the rawness of his game, DeAndre Jordan is more likely.

With a strong work ethic and the right coaching, there's no reason he can't at least become a great shot-blocker and capable scorer around the rim. 

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Luol Deng

Harrison Barnes has been an extremely difficult player to compare to guys in the league at this point.

People have called him a young T-Mac, but his athleticism pales in comparison to McGrady in his prime. I've also heard Paul Pierce, but he doesn't have the late-game instincts of "The Truth." I've even heard Joe Johnson, but Barnes plays much better defense than the Hawks' shooting guard. 

In the end, Deng makes the most sense. Barnes can create for himself much better than Deng, but his all-around skill set seals the deal. 

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

NBA Comparison: Poor man's Blake Griffin

Take away a bit of athleticism and add a bit more range, and Blake Griffin's sophomore year at Oklahoma becomes Thomas Robinson's junior year at Kansas.

Much like Griffin, Robinson uses intensity and constant movement to get the most out of his game, jumping over defenders and scooting past them when they try to cheat up.

I don't think he has the tools to be as productive as Griffin, but he can certainly play like Blake and make some highlight-reel plays. 

Bradley Beal, Florida

NBA Comparison: Eric Gordon

Sometimes, you need to tap the breaks with college-NBA comparisons. Left and right, people are calling Beal the next Ray Allen despite the fact that Beal isn't a top-tier three-point shooter himself. 

At this point, Beal's ability to slash and dash, pass out of the two-guard spot and play good defense is making him look more like Eric Gordon than anyone else.

Jeremy Lamb, UConn

NBA Comparison: Rip Hamilton

Once again we've got another guy we need to tap the breaks on. Internet pundits have compared the kid to Reggie Miller and Tracy McGrady, among others, but it seems crazy to put that much hype into a 35-percent career three-point shooter. 

However, given his optimal size, mid-range jumper, solid defense and ball-handling abilities, there's no reason we can't have another Hamilton here.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

NBA Comparison: Love-child of Kevin Love and Zach Randolph

There's no better way to get more athletic than lose weight, which Jared Sullinger has done. But at some point, you're as athletic as you're going to get—just ask Zach Randolph.

Sully will never play above the rim, but his refined low-post skills on offense make him look just a bit like Zach Randolph.

On the flip side, Sully has become a dangerous shooter, popping in a few threes here and there this year like Kevin Love did in his final year at UCLA.

Throw the two of them together, add some poor defense and the potential to disappear for stretches at a time, and you've got yourself Sully Randolph-Love.

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

NBA Comparison: Taj Gibson

The hot comparison of the hour is likening Arnett Moultrie to Jermaine O'Neal, what with his very good all-around game.

However, Moultrie doesn't seem to have the same defensive intensity that O'Neal had as a youngster, nor is he as strong or fast. However, if you were to add a few inches to Taj Gibson and extend his shooting range a bit, you would have a fair comparison for Moultrie.

Austin Rivers, Duke

NBA Comparison: Poor man's Monta Ellis

Austin Rivers does not play with enough drive and determination, nor does he have the same ability to pass the ball as Monta Ellis, but the rest of their game is quite similar.

Rivers is one of the best ball-handling shooting guards in college basketball, and is confident enough to pull up and shoot from anywhere on the floor. He's also very capable of putting the ball on the floor and driving to the rim in traffic.  

Perry Jones, Baylor

NBA Comparison: Anthony Randolph

Remember a few years back when Anthony Randolph came out of college and everyone was gushing over his great athleticism and enormous potential, but then it turns out he had a mediocre work ethic and on top of that can't really do anything? Does that not sound like Perry Jones in a nutshell?

If there is a ceiling for Perry Jones, I would look at him as a Larry Nance-type of player, but in all likelihood, he will fall somewhere in between Nance and Randolph. 

Damian Lillard, Weber St.

NBA Comparison: Jeff Teague

In a year with few point guards coming out of the NCAA, guys like Damian Lillard will be going higher than they normally would.

Lillard is a good young guard, but he's not your typical lottery pick. He relies a bit too much on his athleticism to get to the hoop like Jeff Teague, but his jumper may just be a notch better.

Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Andre Miller

If there's one thing I came out of the NCAA tournament thinking, it's that Kendall Marshall is smart enough to be starting for an NBA team for the next decade.

In reality, he's not a guy who's going to score 20 points a game, nor is he going to wow you with cuts to the rim—but he genuinely knows what he's doing with the ball in his hands. 

A big, pass-first point guard, Marshall led one of the top teams in college basketball and averaged nearly 10 assists. 

Meyers Leonard, Illinois

NBA Comparison: Robin Lopez

This is one comparison that the internet thugs have completely nailed. Meyers Leonard has size, is decently athletic and can rebound, but that's about it.

Beyond that, you get a sometimes-clumsy, undeveloped post player with decent range and mediocre defense. 

But hey, he's 7'1" and from a big school, which obviously means he's at least a borderline lottery pick.

John Henson, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Marcus Camby

John Henson is known as a skinny big man, which carries a negative connotation, but there are plenty of successful players of his build in the league today. 

With his ability to always be in the right position, shoot a nice short jumper and use his strengths to overshadow his weaknesses, Heneson reminds me quite a bit of Marcus Camby. However, Henson has the tools to become a better finisher at the rim, and therefore add a tool that could make him better than Camby if all goes well.

Mo Harkless, St. John's

NBA Comparison: Paul George

Over the past few months, talk has grown over Mo Harkless coming out of St. John's, and with good reason—this kid has got something special. 

Harkless has decent size for a small forward, but he's still young. Plus, he's able to use his amazing athleticism to get to the rim and rock the house, much like Paul George. He just needs to develop a jumper to make this comparison legitimate.

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Jeff Foster

Tyler Zeller has a good basketball IQ and footwork in the paint, but he has become difficult to compare to NBA players at this point.

His motor allows him to get rebounds and score, which makes me want to throw a Hansbrough comparison at him, but they play far too differently.

At this point, he strikes me as a guy who could have a solid career doing all the right things a big man should do for his team to win. That being said, he's not nearly as tough as Foster was in his day.

Terrence Jones, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: Marvin Williams

Depending on the position that Terrence Jones ends up playing in the NBA, he could end up looking like a number of players.

However, at this point, Marvin Williams seems to be a good comparison at small forward.

Williams is on the bigger end of the spectrum for the three-spot, and he uses his size to his advantage on each end, which is something Jones should be able to do. The only fear is that he won't be quick enough to defend the three and will be forced to play big.

Dion Waiters, Syracuse

NBA Comparison: Love child of Marcus Thornton and DeShawn Stevenson

I've been stuck halfway between player comparisons for Syracuse's crafty guard. On the one hand, he plays defense like DeShawn Stevenson, which has been the trendy comparison for Waiters. However, he seems to have more offensive potential than Stevenson, which brings me to Marcus Thornton.

At any rate, it seems to me that if you take the two of them and smash them together, what comes out could be Dion Waiters—a good defender who can get to the rim and create his own shot.

Doron Lamb, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: Ben Gordon

I wish there was a way to favorably compare someone to Ben Gordon these days, but it seems like every time Gordon's name comes up it has a negative connotation tied to it. However, Doron Lamb is like Gordon in a good way.

As a shooter off screens, Lamb is downright deadly, and he can handle the ball on top of that. Let's just hope he doesn't get complacent like Gordon has, otherwise he will draw the negative reviews that have followed Gordon his entire career. 

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