2012 NBA Mock Draft: Defensive Studs Who Will Dominate NBA

With the NBA becoming increasingly more like street ball, defense is at a premium. This year's draft class is loaded with high-end defenders who can make a difference right away. 

This is a very diverse group too, with big men and smaller point guards showing strong defensive prowess. 

Here is a look at our latest mock draft, with a special emphasis on the stud defenders. 

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

You name it, Davis can do it. He is a much better defender than scorer at this stage of his development. He led the world in blocks last season with Kentucky.

He plays much bigger than his size suggests, and his ability to grab rebounds is as good as anyone who has come out in recent years. 

Defense is at a premium in the NBA today; Davis is a stud defender with a developing offensive game. Even if he doesn't average more than 10-12 points in the NBA, he will be a superstar because of his defense. 

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

Given that he played with Anthony Davis, it is easy to forget just how great a defensive player Kidd-Gilchrist is. In fact, like Davis, his offense is the weakest part of his game right now.

Besides being a gifted athlete, Kidd-Gilchrist is long enough to matchup with players at multiple positions. He is going to stand right in front of someone and make them work to get an open shot, which won't happen. 

His ability to attack the glass and grab rebounds is incredible. He could be the best player for the Wizards as soon as he steps on the court. 

3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Drummond has elite potential, but he didn't show it enough in college to put him in that lockdown defender category. 

4. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas 

A long athletic player who keeps getting better, Robinson has the potential to be an elite all-around NBA superstar. 

5. Toronto Raptors: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal has a knack for grabbing rebounds, but he is going to make a lot of money in the NBA because of his smooth stroke and ability to drive the ball to the hoop. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes earns high marks for his defensive prowess, but he seemed to be very inconsistent throughout his college career. 

7. Detroit Pistons: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut 

Lamb is a solid defender right now. In order for him to reach his full potential, he needs to get bulky. 

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard has the size and presence in the middle to dominate defensively. If he can get comfortable with the power of the NBA, he can be great. 

9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Rivers' success or failure in the NBA is going to be determined by how well he learns to play without the ball in his hands. 

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State 

With Sullinger, the key to his game is going to be how well he holds up physically. He is not a great athlete, but he is strong enough on both sides of the ball to be a solid player for a long time. I'm just not ready to put him in that elite defender category. 

11. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): John Henson, PF, North Carolina

A power forward who only weighs 210 pounds is not likely to have much success in the NBA. Henson clearly needs to bulk up to succeed at the next level, but his raw tools are so good it is hard to ignore him. 

Already a great rebounder, Henson also has such great explosiveness off the ground that he can become an elite shot-blocker. 

There are a lot of ifs associated with Henson, but the upside is tremendous. 

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

Lillard is as good a scorer as there is in this draft; just don't expect him to add much on the defensive side of the ball. 

13. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor

None of us has any idea what to expect from Jones. He has great raw talent, but he is as passive as any player in this year's draft. 

14. Phoenix Suns: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie has the size and athleticism to be a great inside defender. He just hasn't shown that he is capable of becoming that so far. 

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Defense has never been Waiters' calling card. Fortunately, his offensive game is good enough to get him by in the NBA. 

16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston Rockets): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller comes from the Tyler Hansbrough school of prospects. He has the talent to be a solid contributor in the NBA, but nothing more. 

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall's offensive game is so advanced that he should get by just being a capable defensive player. 

18. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington 

Ross earns high marks for his offense, but he is no slouch on the defensive side of the ball. Doc Rivers loves players who give it their all on both ends of the floor. 

Ross makes defending look easy thanks to his natural leaping ability and lateral quickness. He does get in trouble, though, trying to make spectacular defensive plays instead of letting the game come to him. It's not a huge problem, but it's one he will have to fix to reach his full potential. 

19. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Harkless has great athleticism and tremendous leaping ability, which could make him an elite shot-blocker. I want to see more from him before declaring him a great defender. 

20. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Jones is as gifted as any player in this draft, with the size to be a lockdown defender. He just didn't show it on a consistent basis at Kentucky. 

21. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson's performance keeps getting better, which is exactly what you want to see from a raw college player. His length under the glass helps him make plays that very few undersized power forwards can make.

With an evolving offensive game, Nicholson is going to be a first-round pick because of his ability to block shots and grab defensive rebounds. 

22. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier, SG, France

Fournier's game is predicated on driving to the lane, which is exactly what the Pacers need. He needs to add some meat to his bones to be able to defend NBA players. 

23. Memphis Grizzlies: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt 

Jenkins is not a defender at all. His shot is going to determine whether he succeeds or fails in the NBA. 

24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Arguably the second-best defensive big man in the draft, Melo is probably the top rebounder available. 

Melo's size is a big plus coming into the NBA. He is still very raw and doesn't use his frame to block shots, but that will come when he gets used to the speed and physicality of the game. The Celtics love big men who defend down low, so don't be shocked to see them take him here. 

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

In addition to his long limbs, Taylor has the ability to defend multiple positions because of his elite athleticism. 

Plus, Taylor is lightning quick. He can make up ground on an opposing player faster than anyone in this draft. He may not have a lot to his offensive game, but when you can defend like him, you don't need to make a lot of baskets. 

26. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

The Magic need scoring more than defense at this point, so Lamb is going to be an ideal. 

27. San Antonio Spurs: Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia

Jones is not an elite defensive player, but he does rebound the ball well. Gregg Popovich loves players who are fundamentally sound. 

28. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Ezeli's size makes him look like he can be a good defender, but he has to be more aggressive in the paint. 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Not that the Thunder need it, but Wroten is an excellent scoring point guard who can turn into a star if he improves his jump shot. 

30. Chicago Bulls: Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State

Green is one of the most intriguing prospects. He doesn't do anything particularly well, but he is solid in a lot of areas. 

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