NBA Draft 2012: Later-Risers Who Will Carve out Meaningful Careers

During this past college season, the following players weren't getting a ton of draft hype. That buzz is building, and it is building for good reason. These guys have the game to make a serious impact on the next level. 

For the most part, these guys slid under the radar—their respective schools were either too small or not successful enough to put them in the spotlight—but as scouts and others really begin to break down their game, their potential becomes obvious. 

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Lillard is the best point guard in this draft. He is a solid floor general and a great scorer. Lillard has all of the physical tools. 

He is athletic, quick and at 6'2", is a solid size for the position. He also has a silky-smooth shooting stroke and the ability to get into the lane. 

Last season, he averaged 24.5 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. He is an efficient scorer, and with the point guard position becoming more and more valuable, it is hard to see him not being a lottery pick. He will prove to be well worth it. 

Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie has the size to grab scouts' attention right away—6'11" and 230 pounds. You don't have to be supremely athletically gifted to make the NBA with that size. 

Moultrie is athletic, though, and this will likely find him landing in the lottery. This wasn't always a realistic projection for him. He escaped attention—after playing his first two years at UTEP—by transferring and sitting out a year before playing last season at Mississippi State. 

He was solid last season, averaging 15.8 rebounds and 10.6 rebounds a game. He is still a bit raw, but his physical tools will cause teams to fall in love with his potential, and his talent base will lead to him being a very good starter in the league. 

Jared Cunningham, SG, Oregon State

For my money, Cunningham is going to be the steal of this draft. He has decent height for a shooting guard at 6'4", and he definitely has the athleticism. 

He can jump through the roof and can finish on any level. He has a beautiful—yet still inconsistent—outside shot that will improve with time. 

However, the biggest thing he has going for him is that he has the ability to be a combo guard. He is a good ball handler with solid court vision. He averaged 2.8 assists per game last year, despite playing shooting guard. 

Cunningham surprised many by entering the draft, but he is ready and may even slide into the first round.