2012 NBA Mock Draft: Tyler Zeller & College Seniors That Will Shine as Rookies

College seniors are a rarity in the NBA draft nowadays since most of college basketball's best stars leave for the pros after their freshman season, but this year's class has several seniors who will be able to step right into the NBA and contribute at both end of the floor right away.

Let's look at who those players are in this fresh first-round NBA mock draft.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Whoever has the No. 1 overall pick will select Kentucky star freshman Anthony Davis to bolster their roster at both ends of the floor.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky  

The Wizards need a legitimate scorer for John Wall, and someone athletic enough to excel on the fast break with him. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky is the perfect player for that kind of role.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson would give the Cavaliers strong play at both ends of the floor and exceptional one-on-one defense in the paint.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Bradley Beal, Florida

The Hornets need a guard who can take over games offensively, especially if Eric Gordon leaves the team this summer through free agency. Brad Beal is the player who can dominate offensively for New Orleans next season.

5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes will give Kings fans reasons to be excited for the future after the franchise's poor performances for much of the last decade.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey):  Andre Drummond, Connecticut 

The last time the Blazers had a great center, his name was Bill Walton, and the team won their only NBA title in 1977.

They must draft a center this year, and UConn's Andre Drummond will be the best one available at pick six.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, Baylor

The Warriors need to add more defense in the offseason, and even though Jones isn't a great defender, his raw offensive talent is too impressive for Golden State to pass over.

8. Toronto Raptors: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Sullinger is the offensive star at the forward spot that the Raptors have tried to find for years but haven't been able to through the NBA draft.

9. Detroit Pistons: Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Moultrie's defense and rebounding talents will earn him significant playing time right away on a young Detroit Pistons team.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

If the Hornets take a center such as Andre Drummond with their initial first-round selection, then taking North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall is a no-brainer.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, Duke 

The Blazers need a young guard who can dominate offensively and make and take big-time shots. Austin Rivers of Duke can be that kind of player for Portland.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

The Bucks traded Andrew Bogut to the Golden State Warriors in a deal that allowed them to receive star scorer Monta Ellis, and they did not find a capable backup for Bogut.

The center position is a big area of need for the Bucks, who will continue to be an average team until they find a legitimate big man.

Tyler Zeller of North Carolina has a strong offensive game and plays good fundamental defense in the post against strong opponents.

13. Phoenix Suns: Damian Lillard, Weber State

The Suns shouldn't bring back Steve Nash since he will want to go to a team with a shot at the title next season, and they might as well start the rebuilding process by finding his replacement.

14. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Lamb is an offensively gifted guard who can play the point or shooting guard positions in the NBA, and has very impressive leadership qualities.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, Washington

The 76ers need another quality defender to guard the likes of Miami Heat star LeBron James in the Eastern Conference, so taking a good perimeter defender like Terrence Ross in the draft makes a lot of sense.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Jones has the potential to be an amazing NBA player if he can develop his great raw talent into a consistent player who uses his athleticism to dominate at both ends of the floor.

17. Dallas Mavericks: John Henson, North Carolina

The Mavericks would love the shot-blocking power forward with star potential to fall to them, because John Henson is going to be a fine NBA player at both ends of the floor.

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

The Timberwolves really need a guard who can provide a real scoring spark off the bench, which is exactly what Syracuse's Dion Waiters could do for them.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, Illinois 

The Magic will likely lose star center Dwight Howard at some point over the next year, so drafting a talented center for the future like Illinois star Meyers Leonard is a smart move.

20. Denver Nuggets: Quincy Miller, Baylor

Quincy Miller will give the Nuggets more size and low-post scoring that will help them be a playoff team next season.

21. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson would add frontcourt size and skill to an aging Celtics team with several big men well past their prime. He's also an experienced player given his four years of play at St. Bonaventure.

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

Greg Stiemsma has been a nice player for the Boston Celtics this season, but he is more effective in a bench role. Drafting a good rebounder like Fab Melo is the best option for the Celtics in the first round.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Jeff Teague has played well for the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics in the first round, but Doron Lamb is a talented offensive guard who would add great depth to the Hawks' backcourt.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Moe Harkless, St. John's  

Harkless would give the Cavaliers the strength and defense they need at the center position if they choose to pass on Andre Drummond in the top five of the draft.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington

Tony Wroten is an offensively talented guard who would add great size to the Memphis Grizzlies backcourt.

The Grizzlies don't have a lot of height at the guard positions, and with Wroten's 6'7" height, he would be a real boost to the team's depth, especially if OJ Mayo leaves the team in the summer as a free agent.

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Partnered with Darren Collison, Teague would give the Pacers a strong point guard combo that would be very hard to defend in the open floor.

27. Miami Heat: Royce White, Iowa State

The Heat need more players in the front court who can defend well in the low post and rebound against the best big men consistently. Royce White of Iowa State might be able to do that for them.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, Michigan State

Draymond Green was an exceptional leader with the Michigan State Spartans this season and was a major reason why they earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Green is a player who is a bit undersized as a power forward but he shoots well from the outside and isn't afraid to get into the paint and do the dirty work for his team.

A team like the Oklahoma City Thunder need a player who is NBA-ready from a skill and physical standpoint since they're so close to a championship, which makes Green a good fit for them.

29. Chicago Bulls: Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

Tyshawn Taylor is a very good outside shooter, even if he was a bit inconsistent in the NCAA tournament for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Since Derrick Rose's injury hurts the Chicago Bulls' scoring output and their point guard depth quite a bit, drafting a talent like Taylor who can run the offense and provide scoring would be a smart idea.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt

The Golden State Warriors badly need a power forward or center, but the best player available with this pick is Jeffery Taylor of Vanderbilt.

Taylor was a senior who displayed great leadership skills and was always a reliable scorer. He would be a great fit on the Warriors with his offensive abilities and high motor.