NBA Draft 2012: 15 Early-Entry Players Who Will Be Terrible Professionals

Every year, several underclassmen deem themselves worthy of testing the NBA's risky waters, and every year, several of those players quickly realize that they made the biggest mistake of their lives. 

Certain college players are easy to pick out as bona fide NBA stars. These players declare early and flourish in the NBA's style of play. Other players may look good on paper but have fatal flaws in their prospective NBA games. 

It is tough to call any of these talented basketball players terrible. Terrible, in this instance, is all about perception. Players can be considered terrible for simply jumping too early and falling flat. Players can also be considered terrible for going to the NBA but having so-so careers, failing to live up to their considerable hype.

Whatever the case may be, these players will not justify their early declaration with their play at the next level. 

Doron Lamb

Doron Lamb did not receive the same attention as his Wildcat teammates this season, but he quietly led Kentucky in scoring. 

Perhaps Lamb's lack of hype can be attributed to how Kentucky is gauged in today's game. Who will be the best NBA player of the bunch? Lamb will definitely not be that guy. 

Lamb is a solid scorer but relies too much on his perimeter shot. NBA guards will use their length to keep Lamb from hoisting the same shots he did under John Calipari. 

Lamb lacks explosiveness and exceptional passing ability. He needs to work on creating his own shot and should be doing that next year as a Kentucky Wildcat. 

NBA teams looking for a sharpshooter will take a chance on Lamb.

Lamb's lack of strength and one-dimensional offensive array will keep him from realizing his NBA potential.

Meyers Leonard

Meyers Leonard is an athletic—but wiry—seven-footer. He needs to bulk up before he is ready to bang down low in the NBA.

Leonard's athletic frame will help and hinder him at the next level. 

His length will allow him to pester opposing shots. His weak frame will keep him from getting position on either end of the floor, and force him to work outside of the paint. 

Leonard is a capable shooter, but not good enough to make a living out of it.  Leonard must either find a way to convert himself to a face-up forward, or bulk up and bang down low. 

I don't see him bulking up, and I don't see his shot dramatically improving.

Leonard will be at the end of an NBA bench for a few years before completely fizzling out.

Royce White

Royce White was one of college basketball's most versatile players in 2012. However, White's game will not convert as well as he would like. 

White's physical prowess is well-documented, but so are his off-court issues. White left Minnesota after a year of off-court problems, and he has a well-known anxiety disorder. Yes, White enjoyed a tremendous year at Iowa State. He led the Cyclones in all major statistical categories and dominated opponents at times.

But his baggage still exists.

White's mindset will get in his way more than his talent will. He is a very unique player without any glaring holes.

White will not physically dominate professional opponents the same way he did in college. He will need to make a home in the paint. His lack of height hurts that idea. Without the paint, White will have to step outside.

White's perimeter game was his singular weakness last season.

White's enigmatic personality will play a major role in shaping his NBA career. I would like to see him overcome his demons and succeed, but I cannot see it happening. 

Maalik Wayns

Maalik Wayns should have stayed at Villanova for another year. He is undersized and will flounder at the professional level.

Wayns averaged over 17 points per game this season. He also dished out almost five dimes per contest. However, he is a one-dimensional offensive player. 

Wayns' dazzling quickness and exceptional first step gives him an edge over most defenders. NBA guards will not be much faster, but they will be stronger. Wayns will not carve his way into the paint in the NBA, and he does not have the jumper needed to keep defenders honest. 

Wayns is as quick as they come, but he will not be able to get by on that at the next level. Without an outside shot, Wayns will find himself at the end of an NBA bench, or worse.

Dominic Cheek

We may as well talk about Dominic Cheek while we are on the topic of questionable Wildcat declarations. Cheek and Maalik Wayns should have returned to Villanova for their senior seasons.

Cheek came to Villianova with a dead-eye shooter's reputation.

Cheek never shot higher than 35 percent from beyond the arc in his three years as a Wildcat. 

Cheek did average double figures his junior season, but he had two miserable seasons otherwise. He does not bring much to the table beyond scoring. If he cannot do that, he is not a player worth drafting.

He does not contribute on the glass and is not a particularly good passer.  Cheek's lanky frame allows him to defend smaller guards, but he is not a high-energy defender by any means. 

Questionable draft decisions happen every year. Cheek's decision is definitely questionable and will wind up being regrettable.

J'Covan Brown

J'Covan Brown can be an electric scorer. He can also be selfish, turnover-prone and a horrible ball-stopper.

Brown can certainly fill the basket with anyone. If he gets going, Brown can beat teams from the perimeter or around the rim.

But Brown also tends to play with tunnel vision. He does not look for the open teammate. This usually winds up as a turnover, or an ill-advised shot. 

Brown's size will not allow him to play shooting guard on a nightly basis in the NBA, but no NBA team is going to let him run the point either. 

This leaves Brown without a true position, and without a true spot at the next level.

High-volume scorers come and go. Brown will be no different.

Justin Hamilton

Justin Hamilton may not get a chance to be a terrible NBA player. He may not get drafted in the 2012 NBA Draft. 

Hamilton's sole justification for entering the draft is his seven-foot frame. Height alone can find a player a spot on a practice squad, especially if he has the slightest glimmer of athleticism.

Hamilton was overpowered by Kentucky's frontcourt this season. He will get pushed around at the next level, as well.

The skills are not totally absent. He can back himself into the paint, and he is a competent shooter. He lacks in all other areas.

Hamilton's NBA decision was questionable at best. We will either see Hamilton struggle mightily, or not see Hamilton at all.

Perry Jones III

Perry Jones III should be battling Anthony Davis for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. Instead, Jones III is fighting to keep himself in the lottery.

Jones III is an exceptional talent with a very high ceiling. He was also one of the most enigmatic players in college basketball last season.

He is capable of outrunning players in the open court for a breathtaking dunk, and walking down the court while the other team brings the ball back the other way.

Jones III simply does not have the motor to succeed at the next level. He didn't even have the motor to succeed in college.

Jones III has a solid all-around game. He can face up or play with his back to the basket. He is a consistent matchup problem because of his length and athleticism.

The sky is the limit for Jones III, but he plays like he doesn't know that, or he just does not care. Jones III will enter the "what could have been" category, along with countless other superb athletes.

Hollis Thompson

Hollis Thompson is an exceptional outside shooter with an otherwise limited game. 

Thompson's tall enough to play small forward in the NBA, but not strong enough. His perimeter game lends itself to the backcourt, but his ball-handling and passing ability do not.

Defensively, Thompson's length and agility allow him to defend multiple positions. However, he can be overpowered by stronger forwards. He does not always seem tuned in on defense and seems lost at times.

Thompson's outside shot will make him a potential role player in the NBA. That is the best-case scenario.

The line between role player and obscurity is often a fine one to walk, and Thompson will wind up on the wrong side.

Kendall Marshall

Kendall Marshall is the purest point guard in the 2012 NBA Draft. He is an elite passer with superhuman basketball IQ. 

Beyond Marshall's passing ability, he lacks other NBA skills. 

Marshall is a spotty outside shooter. He improved his penetration as the year went along, but he still does not have the first step needed to get by NBA defenders. 

Defensively, Marshall is a liability. He does not move his feet fast enough to keep quicker point guards in front. 

Marshall's passing ability is absolutely absurd at times. He sees passes others do not, but he will not make an NBA career for himself based on one skill.

Marshall should have returned to Chapel Hill for another go at a national championship. Instead, he will be left wondering what could have been.

Renardo Sidney

Renardo Sidney has D-League written all over him.

Sidney was ballyhooed coming out of high school, but failed to live up to his hype at Mississippi State. Sidney did not average double figures this season. He only averaged a shade over five boards per game.

For a man his size, that simply will not do. 

Defensively, Sidney's lack of motivation hampered his ability. He blocked less than one shot per game, and was a non-factor most nights on the defensive end. 

The potential is there, but Sidney cannot seem to get out of his own way. He is agile, skilled, and absolutely huge in the paint. 

Sidney's declaration was a big mistake. He will drift into basketball oblivion sooner rather than later.

Fab Melo

Fab Melo was suspended for the 2012 NCAA tournament. He should have decided to join the Orange for another run next season.

Instead, Melo will accelerate his D-League destiny.

Melo was the backbone of Syracuse's 2-3 zone. He used his hulking frame to clog the paint and swat shots. 

Despite his defensive prowess, Melo has no offensive game to speak of. Melo's rare baskets were usually dunks or gimme layups. He does not have any range or low-post repertoire. 

Seven-footers with Melo's shot-blocking ability come along every so often. Rarely do they find themselves a home in the NBA. 

Melo needed another year, at least. He will be taken in the first round because of his size, but he will never amount to anything of note.

NBA fans, meet Hasheem Thabeet 2.0.

Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers' early declaration was contentious. Part of this lies with his family's NBA ties. The other part's due to Rivers' underwhelming NBA prospects.

Rivers has limitless range and the confidence to match. He is never afraid to take the big shot and operates well with the ball in his hands. However, Rivers needs to learn to move without the ball. He also needs to learn to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. 

Rivers does not have the size or strength needed to play shooting guard at the next level. In all likelihood, he will have to move to point guard in order to be effective, a la Stephon Curry. 

Rivers' three-point range will translate to the next level regardless of which guard spot he winds up playing. His poor vision will not, especially if he plays the point. 

He could be a valuable marksman, but Rivers needed another year under Coach K to refine his game and learn to play within a system.

Rivers will never validate his No. 1 recruit status.

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond did not live up to his hype during his one season as a UConn Husky. He will not live up to his NBA hype, either. 

Drummond has otherworldly athleticism for a man his size. He runs the floor like a gazelle, and finishes at the rim with stunning ferocity.

However, he is unpolished and tends to check out of the game. Drummond needed another year in college to improve his focus and overall offensive repertoire. 

Defensively, Drummond is dominant and intimidating. It does not take opponents long to realize that their trek into the paint will not come without fierce resistance. 

It is tough to say Drummond will be terrible, but I think he will be terrible in terms of what is expected of him. 

Harrison Barnes

Saying Harrison Barnes is anything but the next Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan in Tar Heel country is considered treasonous. Despite the hopes of Tar Heel faithful, Barnes will never live up to his enormous hype.

Barnes managed to average over 17 points per game this season for North Carolina. However, he did not contribute much elsewhere. 

Barnes failed to develop as a passer, rebounder, or defender during his time as a Tar Heel. He needed to stay another year to develop all of these traits.

There is no doubting Barnes' tantalizing scoring ability, but without Kendall Marshall, Barnes seemed to sputter. 

Barnes' inability to create for himself will hurt him at the next level. He is a dead-eye shooter, but his mediocre ball-handling and timid attitude will haunt him.

The physical tools are there, but Barnes will not get out of his own way in time to use them.