NBA Draft 2012: 8 Players Rising Up Draft Boards

The 2012 NBA draft is quickly approaching on the heels of an eventful NCAA tournament. 

As a fan, it is important to always keep a tab on whose hot and whose not because a players draft stock will impact where they get chosen. It sounds simple, but keeping up with the rise and fall of numerous players can be taxing. 

This article will help you understand which players capitalized on a great March Madness performance. 

Here are the top eight players that are shooting up draft boards. 

Bradley Beal

Beal was a top 15 selection before he led Florida to an Elite Eight appearance. Now his status as a top five pick is almost set in stone. 

He is a great shooter and rebounder that proved he can lead a team, as the Gators extended their stay in the tourney. 

He also will have to get stronger, but this guy is one heck of a shooter. Beal is pure shooter with great form and was 40 percent from behind the arc. 

He is an efficient and talented player. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kidd-Gilchrist was expected to be a mid lottery pick in early March. That was before he and his Kentucky teammates destroyed the competition en route to a National Championship. 

Now, Kidd-Gilchrist is a bona fide No. 2 or 3 pick. 

His stock went overboard as the nation saw what a player he can be. But the hype is well deserved. He has a desire to be great and will carry his winning ways with him to the NBA. 

At Kentucky he averaged 11.9 points per game while grabbing 7.4 rebounds a game. 

Kendall Marshall

I’m more focused on what Marshall didn’t do in the tournament than what he did do.

When UNC did not have this stud point guard on the court, the flaws showed. He was the heart and soul of this Roy Williams squad. 

Without him, the team looked lethargic and uninspired. We learned that he was great at passing the ball and making other players around him better while also being the heartbeat of a program. 

Marshall also proved that he can score at will and is now a probable lottery pick. 

Peyton Siva

How many people predicted that Louisville would make the Final Four? 

Truthfully. 

The Cardinals were a great defensive team and rode that prowess to a date with Kentucky. But someone needed to create offense for a defensive-minded squad. 

Enter Peyton Siva. 

He was the star of the show and a proven scorer. Siva provided instant offense and was that spark plug that every team needs. 

He got a chance at a huge stage in the form of the NCAA tournament and ran with it. 

Because of his amazing performance, Siva has gone from a later round-undrafted prospect and transformed into a possible second-round pick. 

Draymond Green

It was clear the whole season who was the leader of Spartans basketball. A lot of times sports journalists use the term “leader” loosely when describing a team's star player. 

That isn’t the case with Green. He is a leader in every sense of the word. He dominated Michigan State basketball from hoop to hoop and was the biggest reason why they were a No. 1 seed. 

His offense and defense are both elite at times, a skill many NBA players cannot get down. 

He plays with this amazing overall intensity and will be a big contributor at the next level. 

Jared Sullinger

Sullinger was already a lottery pick, but his draft stock has risen to unforeseen heights. 

The Ohio State University was a shaky No. 2 seed entering the tournament, and many wondered if they could play well. 

Sullinger answered those questions. He really stepped up for the Buckeyes when they needed a star player most. Yes, the rest of the team came together nicely for the city of Columbus, but there was never any doubt about who the stud was.

Sullinger averaged 17.6 points per game as well as 9.3 rebounds per game. He will be a great NBA player hands down. 

Terrence Jones

Everyone remembers Anthony Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist, but what about the third player in the Holy Trinity that is Kentucky hoops? 

Well, here he is. 

Jones averaged 12.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Those aren’t shabby numbers. But he did rack them up in a crowded court. That is what makes it so impressive. 

Jones is not a silly afterthought as he was an important factor in the Wildcats championship victory. 

Thomas Robinson

One may ask, “Soven, how can Robinson raise his stock when it is already so high?” 

That would be a good question and the answer is that now Robinson is a definite No. 2 pick, and the areas of question surrounding him have become diminished. 

He single-handedly carried an underwhelming Kansas team to the championship. That is no easy feat. Robinson was a bona fide top five selection. He was an all-around great player.

Now he is a threat to double-double routinely in the NBA and is flying up draft boards.