2012 NBA Mock Draft: Late First-Rounders with Big Potential

Outside of Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, there are still a bunch of players who are worth selecting in the first round of the NBA draft, believe it or not. They haven't garnered the same kind of hype, but some of them will be just as capable of shaping their franchises' success for many years to come.

Here is a complete first-round mock, with a special emphasis on underrated prospects expected to be selected outside of the lottery.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Davis is the consensus best player on the board in 2012. He's long and athletic, and he has the leadership qualities to help form a playoff contender, even in Charlotte. 

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

Davis' Kentucky teammate is the best small forward on the board and is an excellent athlete who could help the Wizards shore up their defense, though he doesn't give them the pure scorer they also need.

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

Like Davis, he's a long and athletic big guy, but without the benefit of Davis' size. At 6'9" and 237 pounds, he's somewhat undersized for the position.

4. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Though his athleticism doesn't blow away the scouts, he's a terrific scorer who tallied 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels last season.

5. Toronto Raptors: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

He's the best guard prospect on the board and has the versatility to play point guard or shooting guard. The Raptors can rebuild around him for the future.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn

At 6'11", Drummond is a force to behold, and though he's spectacular in the paint, he needs to improve his range and consistency.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

As one of the nation's top scorers, Lillard has what it takes to be a force in the NBA. But like a lot of his peers, he's going to have to prove he can consistently be a factor at the next level. 

8. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Sullinger uses his size well. At 6'10" and 281 pounds, he's dominant in the paint and is a great rebounder.

9. Utah Jazz: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

He's gifted when it comes to running the floor and controlling the tempo of a game, but his scoring ability—or lack thereof—is a red flag for some teams.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

At 7'0" Zeller has the ability to give the Hornets an athletic frontcourt presence who can be truly dominant with some added strength.

11.  Portland Trail Blazers: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Jones is a great character guy who, though inconsistent, shows terrific athleticism running the floor and has shot-blocking potential at 6'11".

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

His massive 7'2" wingspan is one of his major selling points, and despite an inconsistent motor and a tendency to fire away from beyond the arc, he's a great passer and scorer.

13. Utah Jazz: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Lamb is a solid shooter from mid-range and from three-point land, and his seven-foot wingspan has the scouts excited.

14. Phoenix Suns: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Though Henson is incredibly athletic and is a shot-blocking threat at 6'10", he needs to put on a lot of muscle before he is able to reach his potential in the NBA.

15. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

He's yet another big man who is dominating the draft board this year, but he hasn't quite been able to solidify himself as a lottery pick.

Part of the reason for that is his offense. Though he's good defensively and registered 8.2 rebounds per game at Illinois last season, his offense isn't quite up to par with some of the other power forwards and centers on this year's board.

Leonard has the size, the athleticism and the raw talent to have a long, successful career in the NBA, but he needs to get better offensively and improve his focus on the court. If he does, he'll be a force.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Ross is a natural shooter with great body control who needs to improve his defense before he reaches his full potential.

17. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

One of the best traits the Nuggets will get out of Moultrie is versatility. At 6'10" and 230 pounds, he has the size and the ability to dominate at either the 3 or the 4, or he could even play center on some teams.

He needs to get better at the free-throw line, and he could stand to gain some muscle, but he's a skilled rebounder—especially offensively—and runs the floor well. After registering 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in his sophomore campaign, he established himself as someone who could easily go in the lottery except for some concerns about a transfer from New Mexico to Mississippi State.

Moultrie is a player who, on the surface, has everything he needs to be dominant in the NBA. He just needs to put all the pieces together and stay consistent. 

18. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Leaving Duke after his freshman campaign, Rivers is a good athlete who has a lot of confidence. But he does need to improve his shot selection and his ability to involve his teammates before he becomes a force in the NBA.

19. New Jersey Nets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

This year is considered a weak one for point guards, and yet Wroten finds himself with a lot of competition on this board—whether it be from Beal, Lillard, Rivers or someone else.

Wroten's line at Washington was impressive in 2011-12. He had 16.0 points, five rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as a freshman, and he established himself as one of the better guards in this draft with excellent court vision and the ability to involve his teammates.

He has the talent to be right up there with some of the other guards, but he sometimes plays out of control and racks up turnovers—problems that will only intensify at the next level. This selection is all about balancing risk and reward, and if Wroten does pay off and harness his raw talents, he'll be an excellent pickup.

20. Boston Celtics: Royce White, SF, Iowa State

An anxiety disorder has scared away a lot of teams, but White is a physical scoring forward who has the prototypical NBA body.

21. Orlando Magic: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

He is a raw talent with a great build for an NBA center, but he needs to get a lot better offensively and can't just rely on his build to make him a dominant player at the next level.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor is an incredible athlete who can be a dominant threat on both ends of the floor once he becomes more confident and consistent.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse

He's a combo guard with above-average shooting potential that will serve him well in the NBA.

24. Boston Celtics: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Teague has everything you need from a NBA point guard—strength, athleticism, speed—but he needs to improve his decision-making.

25. Indiana Pacers: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Lamb has always been a threat from beyond the arc, shooting 49 percent as a freshman and 52 percent as a sophomore. He just needs to get stronger so he can effectively defend NBA 2's.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

At 6'8" and 180 pounds, Harkless must get stronger, but he is already a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker.

27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

After four years at Michigan State, Green has the intelligence to be dominant in the NBA—he just needs to prove he can measure up in terms of athleticism.

28. Golden State Warriors: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Like a lot of other players in the second half of the first round, Nicholson must establish that he can consistently perform at a high level, but he's already a shot-blocking threat and a great rebounder.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Another four-year college player, Ezeli has great NBA size at 6'11" and 255 pounds, and he runs the floor well. He just needs to be more consistent.

30. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

A threat from mid-range, Jenkins is a top-tier shooter who needs to prove that his size (6'4", 215 pounds) won't render him ineffective at the next level.