2012 NBA Mock Draft: College Studs Whose Stocks Have Soared

As we progress closer to draft day, the first draft camps are underway, and players are going to be rising and falling on the big board.  

There are a few players who have fended well for themselves since the season ended and seen their stock steadily climb. Some have even worked themselves into the first round and then into contention for a lottery pick. 

Here is a complete mock draft highlighting some of the players who are on the rise. 

Charlotte Bobcats, Anthony Davis

Charlotte will take Anthony Davis with this pick; no questions asked. In fact, if the lottery ball bounces different, whoever gets the first-round pick will use it on Davis, no questions asked, because Davis is the top player coming into in the NBA, no questions asked.

There's not much to discuss on this one. Any questions?

Washington Wizards, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist should go second. He's been projected by most to take that spot and would compliment the Wizards well. He makes sense over Drummond, as the Wizards already have a starting center in Nene. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond should be the third player taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Together with Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers will have a young core of players that can contend for the postseason in the very near future, as in this year. 

New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson

The New Orleans Hornets will need a star player to build around. To a degree, that could be Eric Gordon, who is a restricted free agent. However, with his injury issues two years running, it's a big gamble to give him a max contract. 

He should be good enough to form the "outside" part of an inside/outside tandem. The Hornets biggest need would be an inside part of that duo, and Thomas Robinson would fit that bill nicely. Robinson has the athleticism and explosiveness to be a star in the NBA. 

Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger

I expect that Sullinger will move up the boards for one simple reason—most of the people ahead of him are wings, and the last thing the Kings need is another wing. They'll want a big, and he may be the best big still on the board when the Kings' number comes up. 

There might be better players behind Sullinger, but their No. 1 need is a true power forward, and he'll be the best one of those available to the Kings. 

He is a skilled post player that might be a bit short for most teams, but playing next to Demarcus Cousins would make for an impressive tandem. 

Sullinger is a highly polished player who has the type of game that impresses during the pre-draft camps. Look for him to move up and take a top-five spot in the draft. 

It's possible that the Kings trade down with this pick. 

Portland Trail Blazers: Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes is likely to fall to the Trail Blazers, and Portland is likely to be delighted when he does. Barnes is a true scorer who can knock down shots from all ranges. He is not a "No. 1" type of option, but that's fine in Portland. 

The Trail Blazers have their superstar type player in LaMarcus Aldridge. Barnes would thrive more in a situation where he wasn't expected to carry the team. He's more of a shooter than shot creator, so it's better to not put too much on his shoulders. 

Of course, Portland will need a better point guard situation to get him the ball. We'll have more on that later. 

Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones

Perry Jones is a player that has the potential to be truly magnificent. He also has the potential of being the most disappointing player of this year's draft. 

At his best, Jones is an extraordinary player who can dominate a game on both ends of the court. He is a great finisher at the rim, and when engaged, he's an outstanding defender as well. He can shoot, he can drive and he can post up. 

On the other hand, at his worst, Jones just barely "is." You'd almost think he's not even on the court at times.

The Warriors' biggest need right now is at small forward. They are set at the other four positions, so they'll be looking for the best small forward available, and that will be Perry Jones. If he pans out, the Warriors will be a team to contend with next year. 

Toronto Raptors: John Henson

John Henson is a player on the rise. He plays a strong inside game. He's the type of player you don't need to run plays for in order to have him be successful. He's a terrific rebounder. He can score at the rim with either hand.

Most importantly, he's got a skill set that is otherwise missing on the Raptors right now. He would fit in well in Toronto as a small forward, especially with Andrea Bargnani being a center who can step outside and shoot the three. That could really open up the floor for a guy like Hensen to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. 

Henson's offensive rebounding ability would also give the Raptors help with one of their biggest weaknesses. 

Detroit Pistons: Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal will fall to the Pistons mostly because no one ahead of them has their biggest need at shooting guard. Certainly, he would be useful on a few teams like Washington and Cleveland, but they have bigger holes to fill. 

Even with Detroit, it's a bit of a question mark, as it has Rodney Stuckey, but how far can you let him fall? Ultimately, he may be better served as a sixth man type of player. 

Beal is more of a pure shooting guard than Stuckey. He's a pure shooter who utilizes screens well and is an off-the-ball scorer. As such, he'd fit better alongside Brandon Knight than a second player who commands the ball like Stuckey. 

New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard

The New Orleans Hornets' second pick in the top 10 will go to filling the point guard spot. Lillard is more of a scoring point guard than a passing point guard, but that could fit well with the Hornets. 

Lillard has been steadily rising all season long and may have passed Kendall Marshall as the No. 1 point guard in this draft. 

It may come down to what kind of team you have. For the Hornets, who don't have as many weapons, a scorer at the point might make more sense. 

Look for Lillard to be taken ahead of Marshall as the 10th player taken in the draft. 

Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall

Kendall Marshall will be the second point guard taken, but he will be the first choice for the Trail Blazers any way. They are a team better equipped to utilize his talents. 

Marshall would be a great point guard for Portland, who is more in need of a distributor than a scorer. With Lamarcus Aldridge, Wes Mathews, Nicolas Batum and the projected Harrison Barnes to pass the ball to, he would have plenty of weapons to utilize. 

Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller

The Milwuakee Bucks traded away their starting center, Andrew Bogut, for Monta Ellis and don't really have another true center on their roster. 

Tyler Zeller might not be the best or most complete center in the draft, but he's arguably the fastest and the best runner. The Bucks have broken out a new kind of offense with their Brandon Jennings and Ellis backcourt. 

They are a high-octane, high flying offense, and Zeller would fit in well with his athleticism, which is fairly high for a seven-footer. 

He's not as strong as you want a seven-footer to be, but for the Bucks, who are going to be looking to run the ball, he would be a nice fit. 

Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers

With the possible departure of Steve Nash, the Suns will be in full blown rebuilding mode, and the first they're going to need is a star. Position really isn't so much a factor as star power.

The biggest star available to them at this point is Austin Rivers, who has gained fame because his father is Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics, as well as some clutch shooting for the Duke Blue Devils.

Rivers has the ability and game to be a star entirely in his own right. His offensive game is about as offensively polished as you could hope for form a player his age. 

If there's a strike against him, it's that he can be too selfish. On Phoenix next year, that might not be an issue, as there just aren't that many players on the team that are star material. 

Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie

Arnett Moultrie might be the player that is moving up the boards the quickest right now. He can shoot the ball to space the floor, is developing his low-post game after transitioning from small forward to power forward and plays solid defense on both positions. In fact, he can also play the center. 

He needs developing, though. Still, for a team like Houston that has been looking desperately for a dominant big man since Yao Ming retired, Moultrie could very well be the man. 

He's already jumped into the lottery portion of the draft, but he could climb even higher if he impresses in the draft camps. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Meyers Leonard

The Philadelphia 76ers are a tough team to get a fix on because they are a deep team, and they don't really have any needs or weaknesses that are easily addressable in the draft. Because of that, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sixers make a draft-day trade. 

Barring that they may be looking to replace the potential loss of Spencer Hawes, Meyers Leonard would fill that role. His improvement form his freshman to sophomore years is encouraging. 

In the hands of the right coach—and Doug Collins fits that description—Leonard could develop into a quality starting NBA center. 

Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb

The Houston Rockets are likely to lose at least one of their guards this summer and will be looking to refill that position with the draft. 

Jeremy Lamb could shock them and still be available when they pick 16th. Most won't have him falling this far. It's decidedly possible he won't, but if he doesn't, then either Austin Rivers or Bradley Beal could very well be available here. 

Lamb is the type of versatile guard that would thrive in the Rockets' system, as Houston has done a terrific job developing its guards. 

Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross

The Dallas Mavericks are a tough team to predict because they're expected to address needs through free agency and/or trades as well. They'll be looking to the draft to develop what they don't land in the other areas. 

One thing is for certain. They're set at power forward. Assuming they land Deron Williams in free agency, they'd be set there too. I also expect that Shawn Marion will still continue to play small forward for them. 

That leaves two positions they need to fill: center and shooting guard. While a lot of projections have them picking a center, I expect they'll take a shooting guard for the simple reason that they aren't as hard to develop and they'll want to compete now. 

Because of that, I think they'll pursue a center who has already established an NBA level game through free agency. 

That leaves shooting guard, and the best shooting guard on the board at that point would be Terrence Ross, who would be a nice replacement for Jason Terry. 

Minnesota Timberwolves: Dion Waiters

The Minnesota Timberwolves really only have one need in the starting lineup, and that's shooting guard.

They don't need a center because of the surprising Nikola Pekovic (or, as I like to call him, Pecs-ovic—dude is wide) breaking out over the second half of the season. 

There are a number of projections I've seen with them taking a forward, which makes no sense to me since they have Derrick Williams and Kevin Love already. A respectable shooting guard would round out their starting five, and Dion Waiters would give them that. 

He actually has an aggressive style that would compliment Ricky Rubio's run-and-gun play as well, on both ends of the court. Waiters is adept at shooting lanes and getting steals. Together with Rubio and Williams, he could make the 'Wolves an even more exciting team to watch next year. 

Orlando Magic: Moe Harkness

Once again, because we have no idea what's going to happen with other moves for the Orlando Magic this summer, it's hard to predict who they are going to take. That being said, the thing they need the most if they don't make any moves is a wing who can put the ball on the floor and drive to the lane. 

I think it's safe to say they don't need another shooter. They have plenty of those. 

Their offense is so "either, or" and that's why they struggle. They either shoot the three or go inside to Dwight Howard. Moe Harkless may have weaknesses, but that's his strength. He would be a valuable addition to the Magic, giving them a tool they don't presently have. 

Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague

The Denver Nuggets will probably be losing their back-up point guard, Andre Miller, to free agency and will be looking to the draft to fill the role. 

Marquis Teague and Denver would be a perfect fit. It works for Teague because he's better off if he can be put in a position where he's the backup and has plenty of tools around him to take the pressure off of him. Having George Karl as a coach to start his career off sure doesn't hurt either. 

Teague won't move up much because his decision-making isn't sound enough to warrant being a starter just yet, but he could flourish and be the steal of the draft if he ends up in the right situation. 

Boston Celtics: Doron Lamb

Doron Lamb will go to the Boston Celtics, where, if Ray Allen sticks around for another year, he will have the perfect mentor. 

It's a nice fit for Lamb, who is a shooting type of shooting guard more than a wing. He is not the type of guard that drives the lane like Dwyane Wade, but he's more of a true shooter. He uses his dribble to create space for himself and sink his jumper. 

Having a year behind Allen where he could learn the ropes would be a perfect scenario for him. Having Rondo to pass the ball to him doesn't hurt, either. 

Boston Celtics: Terrence Jones

Much as Doron Lamb could be groomed as an eventual replacement for Ray Allen, Terrence Jones is a potential replacement for Paul Pierce. 

There is a lot of upside with Jones, and he could be a long-term starter in the NBA, but he won't be an immediate one. He needs to go to a team that is established at the position and who can develop him over a year or two. 

Doc Rivers has done a great job developing players over the years, making players taken in the bottom third of the first round into legitimate starters or even bonafide stars, such as is the case with Rajon Rondo. 

Jones and Lamb might not be great right out of the gate, but in two or three years, they could be quality players. 

Atlanta Hawks: Fab Melo

The Atlanta Hawks have been struggling to find a solution at center for years. They've been playing both Al Horford and Josh Smith out of position as a result. When they take Fab Melo, they'll get exactly what they need.

Melo is a true seven-footer who plays well under the basket and would be excellent at gobbling up all those Josh Smith misses and putting them back. Finally, he's an outstanding defender and, combined with Smith and Horford, would give the Hawks an intimidating frontcourt defensively. 

Melo dropped a little bit because of his suspension, but as scouts see him play, and that gets further in the past, GMs are going to worry less about that and pay more attention to what he does well. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Royce White

The Clevleland Cavaliers next role to fill will be a new starting small forward. Royce White would fill that role exceptionally well. He's well-regarded as being an athletic player who knows how to put the ball on the floor and is strong. 

He's a 6'8" player, extremely athletic at 270 pounds and has the ability to run an offense and be a kind of point-forward. He's versatile, able to score, pass and rebound. Sound familiar?

He's had some off-court issues which have hurt his draft stock, but along with Thompson, Irving and Drummond, the Cavs could be putting together a lethally talented team. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten

After this draft, there may be something Wroten in the state of Tennessee. That's a good thing. The Grizzlies are possibly going to lose O.J. Mayo to free agency. While he's a restricted free agency, it remains to be seen whether they'll want to match any and all offers.

Mayo is a very long way from being a popular player with head coach Lionel Hollins, and while he did make some inroads this season, it's doubtful that Memphis is going to keep him if someone overpays. 

Enter Tony Wroten, who is another guard who can play either point or shooting guard whose strength is attacking the basket. Wroten would fit nicely in the sixth man role for the Grizzlies, who are set with their starting five. 

Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier

The Indiana Pacers, as the Miami Heat are finding out, are a better team than people are giving them credit for being. They have a lot of depth and versatility, but the one thing they need is a closer. Danny Granger fills the role to a degree, but they need someone else who can take the pressure off him when he's struggling. 

Evan Fournier seems to be that type of player. He's built a reputation for coming up big in big-time situations in Europe.  

Fournier has seen his stock rise lately, and it could rise even more if he fares well in the pre-draft camp in Chicago. 

Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli

How about a Festus Ezeli for the rest of us, really? That's what the Heat want to know. 

But the Heat need a legitimate center like George Costanza needs a Festivus. Things have gotten so bad for them at center that they started Dexter Pitman, and that's the pits, man. 

Last year, the Heat had the same need, and they squandered their pick on a backup point guard. They got a redundant small forward in free agency rather than pursue a center. 

This year, they're finding out it helps to have a legitimate big man who can play. Whether Ezeli will be that guy remains to be seen, but he's a real big man and he has NBA potential. It's hard to go down from Dexter Pitman. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyshawn Taylor

Tyshawn Taylor led his Kansas team to the finals with his explosiveness to the basket. He averaged about 17 points and five assists per game for the Jayhawks this year. He has the same kind of combination of size and speed that Russell Westbrook has. 

There's something to be said about being able to bring in the same type of player off the bench. You don't have to change your offense when the starter sits. Taylor is something of a "Westbrook-lite" and would be an intriguing fill-in for Westborok. 

The downside is that he's not always the best decision maker and has a tendency to turn over the ball too much. That hasn't exactly been a concern for the Thunder in the past, though. 

Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins

The Chicago Bulls can kill two birds with one stone if they pick John Jenkins, who can play both point guard and shooting guard. He is more of a "both" than a "tweener." 

He is capable of both getting penetration and pulling up for the step back jumper. He's a pure shooter who can hit shots from mid-range and from out deep, so he would be a bit of a difference from Rose. But when you're drafting 29th, you don't have as much to chose from. 

Jenkins could spell time backing up the point guard spot and also at the shooting guard spot. If he prospers, the Bulls can let C.J. Watson go next year and leave him as the full-time backup.

For the time being, he can create shots off the dribble and give the Bulls an efficient scorer who can produce points off the bench. 

Golden State Warriors: Jeffery Taylor

At this point in the draft, it's often the best thing to simply take the best athlete left on the board, and that's likely what Golden State will do here. That distinction goes to Jeffery Taylor. 

Taylor is a tremendous athlete, but his decision-making leaves something to be desired form time to time. Taylor shows ability to dominate, and he also shows an ability to completely disappear, especially in big moments.

He might not be the best player to carry a team, but he is the type of player who would be serve well as a scorer off the bench, where he could focus his energy and use his top-notch athleticism to score points.