NBA Draft 2012: 7 Players Who Will Shake Up 1st Round

The NBA playoffs have yet to begin, but now that the NCAA tournament has concluded the anticipation of the 2012 NBA Draft is rapidly heating up. Draft boards are being created, mocks are being produced at a fever pitch, and everyone has a wishlist for their favorite team.

Common knowledge says there are going to be some major surprises in the first round of the upcoming draft. There's always that one player that no one saw coming that manages to single-handedly shake up the entire draft.

Most of the time the guilty party is typically a younger, unpolished player that has bountiful potential. Other times it's a player who is deemed a bust before being selected, but teams have a hard time passing on them. Finally, some teams just reach to draft need instead of taking the best player available.

Regardless of the reasons, there are always a few players who manage to flip the complexion of the draft. Here are seven players who will shake up the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft:

Dion Waiters, Syracuse

It's hard to tell exactly where Dion Waiters will play at the next level, but teams won't allow that to deter them from taking Waiters high in the draft. He's only 6'4", 215 lbs but has unlimited potential.

Last season Waiters averaged 12.6 points per game for Syracuse, making him the second highest scorer on the team during their remarkable run.

Waiters isn't as high profile as some of the other players in the draft, but he'll be taken early based on his potential alone. He is a work in progress, but that's not always a bad thing. He'll fit nicely in a rotation somewhere until he is developed into a more well-rounded player.

Kevin Jones, West Virginia

Kevin Jones bounced back from a mediocre junior season to have an impressive 2012 senior campaign for the Mountaineers. Jones is considered to have major bust potential as a standout on a bad team, but that won't stop some team from taking a risk on him early.

Jones is worth that risk. He averaged 20 points per game last season and brings a passion and intensity to the game that is hard to find. He has an NBA body at 6'8", 260 lbs and showed that off last year grabbing 11 rebounds a game.

Jones isn't the biggest name, and he doesn't need to be. His combination of skills and size could see him shaking up the first round in a big way.

Fab Melo, Syracuse

Fab Melo is the 7-foot sophomore from Brazil that looks to shake up draft day in a big way this year. Melo has had a rocky road to the draft while battling academic issues, but his height and ability make him an under-the-radar type player.

One thing about the NBA Draft is certain—tall shot blockers are becoming more and more important. Melo is massive and has no issue blocking shots—he averaged three blocks a game last season alone.

Melo is a work in progress on the offensive side of the ball having only averaged eight points a game a year ago, but that is something that can still be improved on through coaching. Natural height, length and defensive instincts can't be coached.

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller is one of the most underrated prospects entering the upcoming draft. As stated earlier, big low-post players who are effective at blocking shots are invaluable in the NBA now, and Zeller brings that to the table in a big way standing at 7'0" and 250 lbs.

Zeller was a standout for North Carolina last season averaging almost 17 points per game to go along with nine rebounds per game. Almost averaging a double-double on a team as good as North Carolina is a hard feat to accomplish.

Zeller didn't win a national championship in his final year as a Tar Heel, but he'll have an opportunity to shake up the draft with his vast array of different talents.

Elijah Johnson, Kansas

Elijah Johnson was promptly shoved into the spotlight after Kansas made it to the national championship this past season, and now he is a household name.

Johnson doesn't average amazing numbers having only posted nine points and three rebounds a game during his junior campaign as a Jayhawk. It's his potential and athleticism that will make him an attractive option early in the first round.

Johnson is a very effective shooter, and his 6'4" frame screams NBA-caliber wing player. His leadership qualities and untapped talent are something NBA teams covet, so Johnson could be off the board much sooner than most expect.

Austin Rivers, Duke

Austin Rivers, son of Boston Celtics' head coach Doc Rivers, has declared for the NBA Draft despite only playing one season of basketball at the collegiate level. Many seem unsure of Rivers' readiness for the next level, but that won't stop him from being selected high in the first round.

Rivers led the Blue Devils in scoring last season with 15 points per game. He has ideal NBA size at 6'4", 200 lbs but needs to put on more muscle. Rivers is very good at creating his own shot but has to give his teammates more opportunities.

Rivers has some room to grow but most entering the draft do. Rivers won't be an instant star in the league, but he has the potential to be the best player taken in this draft class five years from now.

Doron Lamb, Kentucky

It was almost shocking to see Doron Lamb decide to return to Kentucky for his sophomore season a year ago, but he was rewarded by winning a national championship. Now entering the NBA Draft, Lamb has a chance to accomplish special feats at the next level as well.

Lamb has an amazing NBA physique standing at 6'4", 210 lbs. He's an eerily good three-point shooter, connecting on almost 47 percent of his attempts from behind the arc last season. He averaged 13 points a game to go along with his impressive long-range shooting.

Amid the unlimited talent Kentucky possesses, Lamb still managed to stand out. He has a real shot at being a solid player in the NBA, so don't be surprised when a team sees this potential and takes him early, effectively shaking up the draft.

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