NBA Draft 2012: Why Austin Rivers Will Be Rookie of the Year Next Season

In five years, Austin Rivers probably won't be considered the best player in the 2012 draft class. I expect that honor will belong to Anthony Davis.

But next season, don't be surprised when Rivers is the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

Yeah, I said it, and I meant it too. If there is one aspect of Rivers' game that won't need much working on, it's his ability to score. He's a top-notch ball-handler, a dangerous slasher who finishes well at the basket and a player who isn't shy from beyond the arc.

And his jump shot is only going to improve. He'll be a complete scorer at the next level and a willing one at that. His fearlessness as a scorer will serve him well in the NBA, a league where hesitation or tentativeness are the quickest way to move yourself to the bench.

Rivers will score his rookie year, mark it down.

The transition shouldn't be that difficult for Doc Rivers' son, either. He's grown up around the NBA and he knows how the league works. The bright lights won't faze him. He won't be intimidated.

Don't believe me?

Would you believe Jemele Hill and Skip Bayless?

See, I told you...

Sure, there are a lot of questions surrounding Rivers. Is he big enough to be a 2 in the NBA? Namely, can he defend the position? Could he ever be a good enough facilitator to switch to the point guard position? Will he be less unselfish with the ball in the pros?

They are all legitimate questions and ones he will have to answer throughout his career. But next year, his ability to provide a scoring spark for whatever team that drafts him will be the story.

Austin Rivers will be the NBA's Rookie of the Year next season. Mark it down.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets light the lamp like Danny Briere.