NBA Draft 2012: Anthony Davis and 9 Prospects with Rookie of the Year Potential

The upcoming 2012 NBA Draft in June will feature a deep and very talented pool of players. There will be top-notch talent drafted all throughout the first round and some players who will be selected in the second round will have first-round type talent.

It's never too early to think about how some of these guys will do during their rookie seasons in the NBA. Naturally, some guys will get off to better starts than others.

Some will turn into instant stars and some will have bust written all over them.

Here's a look at a handful of players who could be in the running to win the 2013 Rookie of the Year award.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Davis will be the No. 1 pick in June's draft and has the game-changing ability that no one else in the class can match. He can dominate games without ever having the ball in his hands.

He will have a major impact right off the bat on the defensive end. Depending how quickly his offensive game comes around, Davis could certainly be in the running to capture the award.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist is a lock to be a top five pick. We currently have him going No. 2 overall in our latest mock draft.

He will go to a bad team and get minutes immediately. He can do anything on the floor and will definitely have the opportunity to put up big numbers.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson's game is NBA-ready. He's physical and athletic and can have as much success on the block as he can above the rim.

He will be a good scorer in the NBA and a tenacious rebounder. Robinson's a double-double machine, and will definitely be in the running for the Rookie of the Year.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes stock may be a little down right now after a less-than-spectacular NCAA Tournament, but people like scoring and Barnes has the chance to become the best scorer in this draft class.

He should go to a situation where he becomes a team's No. 1 scoring option and will have the opportunity to put up a big rookie season.

Bradley Beal, Florida

Beal's stock is high and he will be a high lottery pick. He's a gifted scorer and a good rebounding guard and in the right situation, he could get off to a very good start to his NBA career.

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Lillard could be the first point guard off the board in June; he has a great skill set. He's a high volume scorer who can run an offense effectively. If Lillard goes to a situation where he can get major minutes off the bat, he will have the chance to put up some great numbers.

Perry Jones III, Baylor

Jones has a fantastic skill set. He runs like a deer and can jump through the gym. On talent alone he should be a top three pick in June. 

That likely won't happen, but if he could ever bring out that talent on a consistent basis, he has the chance to be an outstanding NBA player.

Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers is a sleeper for the award, but he's a natural scorer and that ability alone could get him in the mix. if he has a good season scoring the ball, Rivers certainly has the overall ability to be a solid NBA guard.

Draymond Green, Michigan State

Green is a real sleeper, who will either be selected at the end of the first round or early in the second, but he's the type of player that benefited from staying in college. While there isn't one thing that Green does great, he does everything very well.

If he gets lucky and could go to a situation where he could contribute right away—perhaps Golden State at No. 27—he's got the talent to make an impact in the NBA.