Anthony Davis: Kentucky Star a Lock for 2013 Rookie of the Year

Anthony Davis will live up to the hype in his inaugural NBA season and is sure to be the Rookie of the Year in 2013.

He has the perfect skill set to adapt to today's game and is extremely talented.

Davis had an historic freshman season at Kentucky that was capped off with a national championship. The 19-year-old went to Lexington as the No. 2 ranked recruit by Rivals.com.

He ended his only season as a Wildcat as the 2012 National Player of the Year, the Defensive Player of the Year and the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Davis is now the consensus top pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

The team that is lucky enough to land the Chicago-born prospect will have a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

When the league instituted the defensive three-second violation, the game changed. The days of slow, plodding seven-footers clogging up the lane are gone from the NBA. Now more than ever, big men must be agile and versatile. 

In recent years, this trend has been reflected in the NBA draft. Players like Derrick Williams and Tristan Thompson are hot commodities because of their ability all-around offensive games. They run the floor, score inside and are effective as a perimeter scorers.

Defensively, players like Derrick Favors and Bismack Biyombo are highly coveted. Instead of going after the tallest players to protect the rim, teams are looking for explosive leapers with a knack for timing their block attempts.

Davis is one of the few prospects who is an ideal fit for the modern game on both offense and defense. In the NCAA championship game, Davis posted six points, 16 rebounds, five assists, six blocks and three steals. As ESPN Stats & Info notes, he is the only player in college basketball history to fill up a stat sheet like that in a tournament game.

While his offensive game needs work, he has shown the ability to make jump hooks, and step back and hit outside shots.

But his defense is what truly sets him apart. At 6'10" with a 7'4" wingspan, Davis protects the rim like few prospects ever have. He averaged 4.6 blocks per game last year to lead the nation.

Davis' all-around game makes him a special prospect. His unique defensive skills will make an immediate impact and also will allow him to be effective while his offensive technique develops.

Davis has unique physical gifts and is a proven winner. His skill set will translate very well into today's NBA, and there is no rookie that will challenge him next season.