2012 NBA Mock Draft: Prospects Who Will Be Better in Pros

There are those prospects who excel in college and predictably go on to bigger and brighter things, and then there are those prospects who have the potential to be better players in the pros than they were in college.

Some players are just realizing their potential heading into the 2012 NBA draft. Here's my latest mock draft, complete with prospects who will be better in the pros (in italics).

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Anthony Davis is the premier prospect in the 2012 draft class. He's explosive around the rim, crashes the glass and has the ability to change games with his defense. 

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

The Wizards need star power and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the do-it-all prospect they need. MKG can run the floor and score, rebound, play staunch defense and has a never-ending motor.  

3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Hornets have been looking for a difference-maker at power forward ever since David West left town. Thomas Robinson, with his explosiveness at the rim and elite rebounding ability, is hard to pass up.

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Andre Drummond certainly has his fair share of character concerns (based mostly on his inconsistency), but he has the athleticism and explosiveness to be the next Dwight Howard. However, he also could be the next Kwame Brown. He's hard to pass up in the Top Five, though.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Bradley Beal is the unquestioned No. 1 shooting guard in the class. He's a dynamic scorer, both inside and outside, rebounds the basketball and gets into passing lanes and plays solid defense. He would look nice next to Kyrie Irving.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

The Raptors need more scoring beyond Andrea Bargnani and if there's one thing Harrison Barnes can do, it's score the basketball. There are concerns about his overall game, but his scoring ability may trump all of that.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (via NJ): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Damian Lillard is one of the premier scorers in the draft this year. He can simply light it up and he gets to the paint almost at will. He needs to find his teammates a little bit better, but he has all the tools to be a star at the next level.

8. Utah Jazz (via GS): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Kendall Marshall is the best pure point guard in the draft and he's developed his perimeter game. He simply makes those around him better, which is the primary attribute every star point guard must have. The Jazz could use a point guard after Deron Williams left town. 

9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Perry Jones is a very raw prospect, but his explosiveness and athletic ability is hard to match. If he can ever hone his game and become more consistent, he's going to be a nightmare scoring the basketball, crashing the glass and disrupting on defense. He could form a solid combo with Greg Monroe.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via MINN): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

Terrence Jones has risen up draft boards since the NCAA tournament, and deservedly so. With the ability to contribute in multiple areas and defend both forward spots, he has the potential to be the next Lamar Odom (pre-Dallas). Combined with Robinson, that would be quite the steal for the Hornets. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

A silky-smooth athlete and shooter, Jeremy Lamb could become a dependable starter in the NBA. His length allows him to cause havoc on defense and the Trail Blazers need a shooting guard of the future.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller knows how to rebound and his ability to run the floor and soft touch at the rim would make him a nice complement to speedy guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

13. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Meyers Leonard is raw and inconsistent right now, but he has the size, scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking ability to be a solid starter in the NBA down the line. The Rockets have been searching for their starting center since Yao Ming retired.

14. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Elton Brand continues to play at a high level, but he's aging and the 76ers will want to find a successor. There are questions about Jared Sullinger's athleticism and explosiveness, but his post game is well beyond his years and he's a solid rebounder.

15. Utah Jazz: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Austin Rivers certainly needs to learn the game better and become more consistent, but he has the tools to be a star in the NBA. He's a dynamic scorer.

16. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

The Suns need to find their shooting guard of the future and Dion Waiters has soared up draft boards after the NCAA tournament. Waiters is an explosive slasher who frustrates defensively. He has a lot of potential at the next level.

17. Houston Rockets (via NY): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie needs to add size, but he has the explosiveness and athleticism to be a star at the next level. It's scary imagining what he could do around the rim with some work. The Rockets wouldn't mind some depth in the frontcourt. 

18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Washington

Terrence Ross has the ability to slash to the rim or knock down the outside shot and his length and explosiveness makes him a good defender, too. He could provide depth at shooting guard or small forward for George Karl. 

19. Dallas Mavericks: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

The Mavericks need to find the successor to Jason Kidd. Tony Wroten has the talent, explosiveness, passing ability and speed to be a lottery pick, but he needs to become more consistent and play more within the game.

20. Orlando Magic: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Dwight Howard is leaving Orlando. There, I said it. The Magic need to find their center of the future and Festus Ezeli has the size, rebounding and defensive ability to make an impact right away. He is raw offensively, though.

21. Boston Celtics: Royce White, F, Iowa State

Royce White's anxiety disorder and character concerns make him a bit risky, but he could be a star if he develops on a veteran-laden team like, say, the Celtics. He's a point-forward type player who will do a little bit of everything for you and he has great size.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Even if Fab Melo's offensive game never comes around, he's enough of a defensive prospect that he's going to get plenty of attention on draft day. He held down Syracuse's 2-3 defense last season en route to the NCAA tournament.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

I really like Jeff Taylor's game. He's committed on defense, has the explosiveness to crash to the rim and has developed his mid-range game significantly. He has all the makings of a player just realizing his potential. Not a bad replacement for Josh Smith if he leaves town. 

24. Boston Celtics (via LAC): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

How can the Celtics resist a shooting guard with a silky-smooth touch? Doron Lamb could be the successor to Ray Allen with his perimeter shooting and long wingspan. 

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Small forward is a spot the Cavaliers need to address. Moe Harkless has the length and explosiveness to be trouble driving into the lane and he's a solid rebounder and shot-blocker. He'll need to improve his mid-range game, however.

26. Indiana Pacers: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Adding depth behind Danny Granger would be a wise move for the Pacers. Draymond Green is another one of those point-forward type players who contributes across the board. His lack of athleticism and tweener size has caused some to back up, though.

27. Miami Heat: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

If the Heat landed Marquis Teague, they would be ecstatic. Teague still needs to learn the game more, but he improved exponentially in his freshman season at Kentucky and he's a balanced player, with the ability to drop buckets and dish off to his teammates.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Thunder really only need depth. Adding some depth in the frontcourt with Andrew Nicholson wouldn't be a bad move. Nicholson needs to add strength, but he's a long, athletic player who will rebound and block shots for you, as well as hit his fair share of three-pointers.

29. Golden State Warriors (via SA): Evan Fournier, SG/SF, France

N.C. State's C.J. Leslie would have been a nice fit with the Warriors, but now that he's staying in school, the Warriors could take a chance on France's Evan Fournier, who has a smooth jump shot and penetrates the lane well. He's a work-in-progress at 19 years old, but he has tons of potential. 

30. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, SG, Memphis

I continue to be a believer in Will Barton, whose scoring ability, combined with his rebounding and leadership skills, could make him a nice fit in Chicago alongside Derrick Rose. He's vastly underrated in my opinion.

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