2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Anthony Davis and Kentucky Stars Reshape 1st Round
Kentucky's impressive run to the national title not only earned the players a championship they will remember forever, but it also set them up for nice paydays in the upcoming NBA draft.
Game in and game out, these players demonstrated their elite athleticism. The Wildcats are going to dominate the first round of the upcoming draft.
So, in my latest mock draft, these Wildcats will be highlighted with extra attention.
Langford's 2012 NBA Mock Draft
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Anthony Davis is the brightest star from this championship group of Wildcats. Davis is such a complete player that he was able to impress scouts with a national championship game performance that saw him score just six points on 1-10 shooting.
With that unusually inefficient shooting performance, Davis was able to showcase the many ways he is able to impact a game.
That is because he had 16 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and three steals. Big men with this kind of complete skill set come around just once in a generation. Davis is the clear-cut No. 1 overall choice.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had an inconsistent run in the tournament, but he showed without a doubt that he is capable of dominating games against a high level of competition.
Gilchrist is the prototypical shooting guard. He is athletic, explosive, and has a shooting touch. He can handle the ball when he needs to, take defenders off the dribble, spot-up shoot, and he can defend.
He is the complete package. He also doesn't need a lot of shots to be productive. He hit at least 50 percent of his field goals in four of six tournament games.
He is going to have to improve his outside shooting to be an elite player, but that is something you would expect him to improve as he ages.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
Drummond has great movement for a man his size. He is still a bit raw, but his ceiling is through the roof.
4. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson excelled against other NBA-caliber big men in the tournament. His draft stock soared because of it.
5. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
The Raptors need another scoring threat in their backcourt. Lamb knows how to get buckets.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Portland needs some perimeter athleticism. Barnes definitely has that.
7. Detroit Pistons: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Beal is another player that boosted his stock in the tournament. The Pistons can definitely use his scoring potential.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard has the height and athleticism to be a great NBA player. He just needs some polish to his game.
9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Utah is in desperate need of the backcourt scoring that Rivers will bring.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
The Bucks have to add some scoring potential. Sullinger's well-developed post game will be a nice fit.
11. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
The Rockets have been trying to add talent to their frontcourt—see, for example, the failed Gasol trade. Henson will give them a versatile big man with potential.
12. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
The Blazers need point guard depth. Lillard will bring that with the potential to become a starter.
13. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor
The Hornets must find a player with star potential. The lanky and versatile Jones has that.
14. Phoenix Suns: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Moultrie will bring needed athleticism to the Suns. He will help this team become dangerous once again in the open court.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
The improving Timberwolves have to add depth and scoring to their backcourt.
16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston Rockets): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller will team with Lopez to give the Nets an athletic and long frontcourt. He will also give them flexibility if they want to pursue a trade.
17. Philadelphia 76ers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall's true point guard skill set will be a nice fit with Holiday to give the 76ers a dangerous combo at point guard.
18. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Ross is an excellent fit for Boston. He will team with Rajon Rondo to give the Celtics one of the best defensive backcourts in the league.
19. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
The athletic and defensive-minded Harkless is a custom-made George Karl player.
20. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
Jones is the perfect heir apparent to Shawn Marion. He is the same kind of player.
For starters, he is an excellent defender with solid length. His long arms allow him to play the passing lanes, and his quickness makes him a fierce on-ball defender.
He also adds offense. Jones can take his man off the dribble—although he will have to improve in this area.
He is a solid shooter, but, like Marion, will need to improve his consistency. Jones can also grab boards. In Kentucky's six tournament games, he averaged 8.2 rebounds per contest.
21. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
The athletic Nicholson will be a nice fit coming off the bench for the Hawks.
22. Indiana Pacers: Tony Mitchell, SF, North Texas
Mitchell has the potential to be a lockdown wing defender, and he will fit right into the Pacers' team concept.
23. Memphis Grizzlies: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
Jenkins will give the Grizzlies a solid backcourt piece that will help free them up to trade O.J. Mayo.
24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo is another perfect fit for the Celtics. His length and defense are exactly what Doc Rivers needs.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Since a certain player ripped out the hearts of Cleveland fans by departing in free agency, the Cavs have been unable to find another SF that can score. Taylor can do that.
26. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Orlando needs another scorer in their backcourt, and Lamb proved in the tournament that he can be an elite scorer.
He was Kentucky's most consistent scorer in the tournament. He hit double figures in scoring in all of their tournament games, and went for 22 in the championship game.
He can also shoot from a distance, which is essential for any perimeter player teaming up with Dwight Howard. In the tournament, Lamb was 12-23 from behind the arc.
27. San Antonio Spurs: Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia
Jones will give the Spurs another big body to help ease the load on the aging Tim Duncan.
28. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
The Heat need to find a center that can grow with the team. Ezeli is a project, but he has potential.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington
Wroten will be a nice backup for Russell Westbrook, and he has the size and defense that will allow him to play minutes at shooting guard.
30. Chicago Bulls: Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State
Green is exactly the kind of player that Chicago currently loves. He is smart, well-rounded, and great on defense.
