2012 NBA Mock Draft: First-Rounders That Need Another Season in College

Every year we see freshman enter the NBA draft too early, and their poor rookie seasons prove another year in college would have been the right move.

This year there are several of those kinds of players, and with a deep draft class, it's surprising many of them chose to enter the draft.

Let's look at those players in this first round NBA mock draft.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The inclusion of Davis at Team USA's training camp before the Summer Olympics prove just how special everyone in basketball thinks this kid is.

Rarely does a college player get to come to training camp with a legitimate shot at making the team.

2. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, Florida

John Wall and Beal would be a great young guard tandem and would drastically improve the team's offense.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers:  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky    

Kidd-Gilchrist could become a superstar small forward and someone who finally can take over for LeBron James at that position in Cleveland.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

The Hornets could select Andre Drummond to satisfy their need at center, but there's way too much risk in that strategy. Robinson is a safer bet.

5. Sacramento Kings:  Andre Drummond, Connecticut

The Sacramento Kings have not had many quality centers throughout their history, which is one reason they have never won an NBA title.

Big men are always risky and Drummond is one of the riskier ones I have seen in a long time. He was supposed to destroy opponents as a freshman at UConn and lead the team to a second straight title, but at times he was just average.

Any team that takes Drummond will have to make sure it does its homework, because another year at school would have been the smart decision for him.

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

Barnes was supposed to dominate in March Madness but ended up being a disappointment instead. I can't imagine his draft stock will fall too much, though.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, Baylor

Jones' athleticism and willingness to run the floor in transition are a perfect fit on an uptempo Warriors team.

8. Toronto Raptors:  Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

The Toronto Raptors are another team that's never had a star center, and with a need at the position, drafting Moultrie is a no-brainer.

9. Detroit Pistons:  Kendall Marshall, North Carolina 

The Pistons need a pure point guard who can be a playmaker and give the scorers chances to be effective. Marshall is the best PG prospect in this class.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Jared Sullinger, Ohio State 

Sullinger should have entered last year's draft but he went back to Ohio State and came up short of a championship again. I still would be surprised if he slips out of the top 10 picks, though.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, Duke 

Rivers has the ability to play the point guard or shooing guard role for the Blazers, who are a team desperate for young guards who can shine offensively.

However, Rivers still hasn't developed into an NBA-ready guard yet and would benefit tremendously from another year at Duke with the teaching skills of Coach K.

Rivers doesn't have the size or strength needed to dominate at the shooting guard position, which will be a problem for him as a rookie.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

This is a no-brainer pick for the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that has little depth and talent at the center position, which is a real problem.

13. Phoenix Suns: Damian Lillard, Weber State

Lillard and Marshall are both fits for the Phoenix Suns as they look to build a quality team in the post-Steve Nash era.

14. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

The Rockets may select North Carolina forward John Henson, but Lamb is a quality scoring guard with good playmaking skills.

15. Philadelphia 76ers:  John Henson, North Carolina

Henson would be the ideal player to take over the Elton Brand at power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers.

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

Jones stayed in school for his sophomore year but didn't really prove to scouts and fans that he's anything more than a raw talent who needs to give better effort.

Jones has so many different talents because of his length and athleticism, but he doesn't dominate the game in one aspect.

Staying at Kentucky another year and working on his game, while contending for another NCAA championship, would have been the most logical decision for Jones.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross, Washington  

If the Mavericks don't want to rebuild next year, they need to take a player like Ross, who can defend the best perimeter scorers in the Western Conference.

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

Ricky Rubio and Waiters would give the Timberwolves an athletic backcourt that's full of scoring and exciting play.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, Illinois 

Leonard isn't the best player available, but the Orlando Magic need to find a future replacement for Dwight Howard sooner rather than later.

20. Denver Nuggets: Quincy Miller, Baylor

Miller's ability to score in the low-post would be a valuable addition to a talented young Denver Nuggets team.

21. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

The Celtics will need power forward depth next year, especially someone athletic at that position, which makes Nicholson a good fit.

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

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers doesn't play rookies a whole lot, but Melo is someone who would play big minutes because of the team's lack of bodies at the center position.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Doron Lamb, Kentucky

The Hawks are going to make major changes in the offseason because they aren't good enough to win two or more rounds in the playoffs, so expect them to take a reliable guard in Lamb from Kentucky.

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

It's hard to imagine the Cavaliers passing on St John's star Moe Harkless when the team needs a versatile guard/forward who plays good defense.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, Iowa State 

The Grizzlies clearly need a stronger defensive presence in the paint next season, which makes White of Iowa State a smart and safe choice at pick 25.

However, White won't be able to give the Grizzlies much offensively, both in terms of inside scoring or outside shooting.

White would be smart to stay in school for his junior season and develop his offensive game further, because with better scoring skills, he would be a top-15 pick next season.

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Teague may not be what the Pacers need, but he has too much talent to pass on at this point in the first round.

27. Miami Heat:  Tony Wroten, Washington

The Miami Heat need stronger point guards and someone who can score from the position too, which Wroten will be able to do.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, Michigan State

Green's all-around skill set is perfect for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that has great camaraderie and an unselfish attitude.

29. Chicago Bulls: Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

Taylor struggled in the NCAA tournament, but the Kansas guard's offense would give the Bulls exactly what they need from the guard spots.

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

The Warriors could go a number of ways with this pick, but adding some strength and size to their small forward depth would be the best move at pick 30.