NBA Draft 2012: Biggest Difference Makers Who Will Fall to Second Round

The 2012 NBA Draft may be just over a month away, but I can already tell you three players who won't hear their names called until Round 2. This doesn't mean these three players don't have the talent to succeed on the professional level however.

For different reasons, I think all three of these soon-to-be rookies will find themselves drafted in the second and third round. Insert chip onto shoulder.

Fab Melo, Syracuse:

Probably my boldest prediction you'll see in this article, I just don't see the former Syracuse standout receiving the respect he deserves when the NBA scouts huddle together at the end of June for the draft.

The Brazilian-born center wasn't eligible to play in the NCAA tournament back in March and that's about as plummeting to your draft stock as it gets outside of legal troubles.

Melo may get looks from the Minnesota Timberwolves at pick No.18 or Cleveland with their second selection in the first. If the Cavaliers pass on him at pick No. 24, the Syracuse star will find himself available when the second round kicks off.

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt:

Vandy's standout small forward will be a treat for whoever decides to grab him at the start of Round 2.

Taylor knows how to use his 6'7" frame to get into the paint and simply knows how to assert his will on opposing defenders.

He also chose to stay at Vaderbilt for four full seasons, so Taylor has fine-tuned his abilities while playing against some of the NCAA's toughest college programs.

Khris Middleton, Texas A&M:

I think Alex Raskin of NJ.com summed Middleton's draft stock up perfectly when he said "[He] is going to be all over everyone's mock drafts, from the middle of the first round to being off the board altogether."

The Aggie isn't a guy whose going to wow or blow teams away with any one specific aspect of his game; he's just a well-rounded player who does a little bit of everything well.

Fellow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Maxwell Ogden sees a lot of Tayshaun Prince in Middleton's game due to his decent mid-range game.