NBA Draft 2012: First-Round Prospects Destined to Immediately Succeed

When NBA general managers sit down and decide who to draft, they always hope to find players who will succeed in the long run for their franchise. But it's always an added benefit when the players they pick—like these five—immediately succeed during their rookie seasons. 

Whether they're dominant scorers, great shooters or defensive stalwarts, these five players should compete for Rookie of the Year because they'll be ready to contribute from the very first game of the 2012-2013 NBA season. 

Read on to find out who they are. 

Anthony Davis

School: Kentucky

Position: PF/C

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'10", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists

Anthony Davis is ready for the NBA in all three major parts of the game. 

Part 1: His defense is clearly ready. I mean, duh. 

Part 2: His offense is going to shock a lot of people because it's already quite developed for a player who was recently a 6'3" point guard. Davis has a number of post moves and his jumper's range extends all the way downtown. 

Part 3: His unibrow is almost ready to challenge James Harden's beard for follicular superiority. That is an exaggeration, but still...

John Henson

School: North Carolina

Position: PF/C

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'11", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Though John Henson is an offensive work in progress, there's always a spot for a defensive big man when the defense is as polished as this 6'11" man's is. Plus, Henson's offense is a bit further along in the aforementioned progress than most other defense-only big men. 

The versatility of Henson's defensive game is what truly makes him stand out, though. 

Although the former North Carolina Tar Heel's lack of strength may hinder him, his length should allow him to remain a shot-blocking presence. Additionally, his quickness and athleticism allows him to guard the more versatile big men out on the perimeter. 

John Jenkins

School: Vanderbilt

Position: SG

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 19.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists

John Jenkins is quite possibly the best pure jump-shooter in this year's draft class. 

The two-time reigning scoring champion in the SEC can light it up from anywhere, and that's not even his best skill. 

What makes him ready for the NBA is that he can score in volume without having the ball in his hands. Jenkins has an unbelievable ability to free himself by running around and through off-ball screens until he's put enough separation between himself and his defender. 

There's always a place in the rotation for a shooter like Jenkins. 

Jeremy Lamb

School: Connecticut

Position: SG/SF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'5", 180 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Jeremy Lamb may not be the highest-rated shooting guard on the big board of any NBA general manager, but he has the two-way potential to surpass Bradley Beal and he may be a safer bet during their rookie seasons. 

Lamb has the ability to become a lock-down defender, but he has the tools necessary in the present to make an immediate impact on the more glamorous part of the court.

Not many shooting guards can create shots with the ease that this soon-to-be-20-year-old Connecticut Husky plays with. 

Thomas Robinson

School: Kansas

Position: PF

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'10", 237 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Thomas Robinson is no longer going to be able to out-physical everyone that he goes up against because, from a strength standpoint, the NBA is to the NCAA what high school is to elementary school.

What this 6'10" power forward still possesses, though, is an unstoppable energy level that allows him to play with a lot of effort from tipoff until the final buzzer. Additionally, he's got quickness, speed, athleticism and explosiveness that are all significantly above average. 

I'm not convinced that Robinson has the highest ceiling by any means, but he should have all the physical tools and skills necessary to succeed during his rookie season.