NBA Draft 2012: Elite Senior Prospects Ready to Make an Immediate Impact
Though the majority of the studs in the 2012 NBA Draft are underclassmen, there are a few notable seniors set to help a team from Day 1.
A top-notch four-year prospect is a rarity in sports, and it's even more rare in basketball since, unlike football, there is no restriction that requires collegiate players be three years removed from high school.
Generally, the best players have bolted by the end of their freshman and sophomore years. Some late-bloomers make it through three years, but the senior prospect is scarce.
In this draft, here are the top three seniors available, what made them stay four years and their primary skill set.
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt (6'7", 220 pounds)
The Swedish-born Taylor is perhaps the draft's best athlete. He is strong, and he possesses All-Star Weekend hops. His calling card is his defense, but he deserves kudos for his development on the offensive end as well.
Taylor has improved his scoring average every year he's been at Vanderbilt, topping out at 16 points per game as a senior. That can be attributed to his vastly improved outside shooting.
This underdeveloped skill was perhaps the primary reason Taylor didn't enter the 2011 draft. In the 2011-2012 season he shot 42 percent from three-point range, and that is even more impressive if you consider that he began his college career as a 22 percent shooter from distance.
Teams may be a bit down on him since he turns 23 later this month, but I believe Taylor is one of the most underrated players in the draft.
Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure (6'9", 240 pounds)
Nicholson is as fundamentally sound in the post as any player in the draft. He doesn't make spectacular plays or jumps out of the gym, but he has great footwork and a soft touch.
The range on Nicholson's jump shot extends out to 17 feet, and he makes 77 percent of his free throws. He is the type of player who could easily be overlooked because he doesn't have freakish athleticism, but he has very long arms (7'3" wing span) and a high skill level.
The Canadian-born Nicholson is a true student-athlete; he majored in physics, and the science program at St. Bonaventure was a lure for him to go there four years ago. This kid is a true leader, and he'll be an asset to any team that drafts him.
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina (7'0", 250 pounds)
Zeller wasn't ready for the NBA before now, but he improved every major statistic in every year he was in Chapel Hill. The finished product is a player who averaged 16 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a senior.
Zeller also shot 80 percent from the free-throw line, which is especially stellar considering he's a true center. He is a better-than-average athlete with an excellent motor, and although he doesn't have a ton of post moves, Zeller is the type of player who doesn't need plays run for him.
Zeller would be a great fit alongside an offensive-minded PF like LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland.
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