NBA Draft 2012: Whose Stocks Are Rising, Falling Approaching Lottery?

The 2012 NBA draft is growing nearer by the day, raising the blood pressure of NBA scouts and the anxiety of the potential NBA players. Everyone wants to know who is going where, with the future of the league resting in the hands of 60 soon-to-be stars.

The question is, whose stardom will last more than one night? Most importantly, who is putting themselves into position to maximize their potential?

Take a journey with the following slides to uncover the great mystery of which future rookies are improving or hurting their draft stock.

Rising: Point Guards

Doesn't matter who they are or where they're from, point guard prospects are in prime position for an early exit on draft night. 

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com:

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Next year, ESPNU doesn't have one point guard ranked in its top 20 of the incoming recruiting class. The top point guard is Kris Dunn, who signed with Providence, and he's ranked at No. 23. That means waiting until next year for an elite point guard to emerge might prove fruitless. I had a number of GMs tell me Damian Lillard, Kendall Marshall, Tony Wroten Jr., B.J. Young, Marquis Teague and Myck Kabongo could all go higher than they are currently projected.

"

While B.J. Young and Myck Kabongo decided to return to school, both were projected to be second-round draft picks. That means that general managers are still thinking of picking high, opening the door for players such as Scott Machado of Iona, Tyshawn Taylor of Kansas and J'Covan Brown of Texas to go higher than expected.

Draft Stock: Rising

Falling: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Buckeyes

Jared Sullinger may be the most enigmatic player in this draft class,.

As Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com so eloquently outlined, Jared Sullinger has slimmed down and appears to be in the best shape of his young career. Unfortunately, his weight is not the only thing that seems to be falling.

And then rising. And then falling again. Here's what Howard-Cooper has to say:

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The result has been a flurry of compliments from around the NBA in an important affirmation of the hard work. He scores from the low post at 6-feet-9, plays smart at 19 years old, rebounds, and has gone from 292 pounds when he arrived on campus in Fall 2010 to 264 for the beginning of his sophomore season, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Sullinger always had the game. Now he has a new layer of dedication...except the applause from executives and scouts is offset by the reality that all that may not help come draft night. 

"

Exactly what you wanted to hear. And then not.

Draft Stock: Fluctuating, Currently Falling

Rising: Dion Waiters, Syracuse Orange

Player Traits: Shooting Guard—20—6'4"—215 pounds

I was shocked to see Dion Waiters crack the Top 10 on Chad Ford's Big Board, but upon further analysis, it's not hard to see why. This tidbit from Ford explains it perfectly.

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A number of NBA scouts who I really respect have been telling me for more than a month that the real sleeper in this draft is Syracuse sophomore Dion Waiters. One GM went even further. "There are really only two potential superstars in this draft. One is a sure thing—freshman Anthony Davis. The other one is Waiters. He can be an electric scorer in the NBA. There's some Dwyane Wade in him."

"

Whether you feel his stock should be rising or not, it's hard to question Ford's credibility. Whether you like it or not, Waiters is a kid who could go much sooner in the draft than people expect. His stock is certainly on the rise.

And how can you not like the guy? Waiters told Ford:

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A lot of people judge me, but they don't know me. I'm a good kid. I've never been in trouble. I've never been arrested. I don't hang around bad people. I was immature when I came to school. I was overwhelmed. But I put in the work to get better. Coach and I didn't bump heads all season. I'm very coachable. I just needed a little room to grow.

"

That's the type of "chip on the shoulder" that you love to see. Time to learn, Carmelo Anthony!

Draft Stock: Rising

Falling: Royce White, Iowa State Cyclones

Player Traits: Small Forward—21—6'8"—240 pounds

Had the NBA draft occurred directly upon the conclusion of the NCAA tournament, Royce White may have found himself as a potential lottery reach. With momentum no longer a factor, as scouts and fans alike have begun to evaluate beyond the inspiring tournament performances, White's draft stock has taken a tumble.

White's history with anxiety disorder and fear of flying is well-documented. He's also done a poor job of encouraging GMs who may take a chance on the immensely talented forward.

White stated:

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It's two different worlds for me. There's who I am off the court, and who I am on the court ... Who I am on the court comes secondary to all the other stuff.

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Sometimes batting .500 is a bad thing, Mr. White, and that's what you've done. Just turn that anxiety into motivation, as your talent could make you a star in the NBA, but stock could make you a late-first or early-second-round draft pick. And we know what happens to those guys, right, DeMarre Carroll?

Draft Stock: Falling

Rising: Terrence Ross, Washington Huskies

Player Traits: Shooting Guard—21—6'6"—190 pounds

If Dion Waiters' rise is meteoric, Ross' potential is out of this universe. An undisclosed NBA scout confirmed this theory.

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That Washington team was pretty dysfunctional this year and I think it hid, at times, what Ross is capable of. He's got the size, athletic ability and he can really, really shoot the ball. I think when he gets into workouts with [Jeremy] Lamb, [Dion] Waiters and [Austin] Rivers, he's going to surprise a lot of people. I'm not sure he's not the best 2 guard on the board. Take him away from Washington and I think he's going to be an elite prospect.

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High, and well-warranted, praise. Ross has the most NBA-ready body of any 2 in this draft class and the skills to go with it. This kid could be special.

Draft Stock: Rising

Falling: Jae Crowder, Marquette Golden Eagles

Player Traits: Small Forward—21—6'6"—225 pounds—6'9" wingspan

At the New Jersey draft workouts, a handful of players from smaller schools made a name for themselves. Unfortunately, Jae Crowder was one of those players whose name wasn't associated with the best of company.

Upon the conclusion of the 2012 NCAA tournament, Crowder reportedly stood at just 6'3" and 3/4 inches in socks. Considering some had projected Crowder to be a 4, although most see him as a 3, it's hard to imagine his height will go unnoticed.

A serious fall could await the Big East Player of the Year. Fortunately, his talent and work ethic could make him into this year's Kawhi Leonard.

Draft Stock: Falling

Rising: Kim English, Missouri Tigers

Player Traits: Shooting Guard—23—6'5"—200 pounds

Kim English entered this draft with high-praise from all who have coached him and plenty of criticism from those who have yet to truly study his game. Regardless of where you stand, Chad Ford of ESPN.com confirmed one truth we all must be made aware of.

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The NBA is always looking for shooters, and English was the best shooter in the gym over the weekend. It's been a role he's played well at Missouri the past few years. He shot nearly 46 percent on 3s for Missouri this past season and wowed teams in the workout. The question is whether there's anything else he can do.

"

With popular dark horses such as Kevin Murphy and Orlando Johnson also attending the New Jersey draft camp, that's a significant achievement. It's also significant for English's draft stock. 

Draft Stock: Rising

Rising: Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State Spartans

Player Traits: Center—22—6'10"—240 pounds—7'5" wingspan

Kyle O'Quinn was the star in one of the NCAA tournament's biggest upsets of all-time. At the New Jersey draft camp, he once again stole the spotlight with the measurement of his massive 7'5" wingspan.

In a suddenly decrepit class of centers, hindered by declarations of intent to remain in school by both Cody Zeller of Indiana and Patric Young of Florida, O'Quinn has emerged as a potential early-second-round draft choice. With Festus Ezeli considered to be a potential first-round selection, this leaves either O'Quinn or Henry Sims of Georgetown as the next best center.

I'm giving the nod to the NCAA tournament star.

Draft Stock: Rising

Rising: Tony Mitchell, Alabama Crimson Tide

Player Traits: Shooting Guard—22—6'6"—220 pounds

Tony Mitchell has an uphill battle entering the draft, as he was suspended for a majority of the 2012 season due to a culmination of off-court issues. Upon working out at the New Jersey draft camp, Mitchell is now considered to be one of the most pro-ready prospects available:

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"He looked more like a pro than anyone I saw on the floor this weekend," one GM said. "There are a lot of things you have to figure out about him, but he was good enough that he's worth the effort of going and doing your due diligence."

"

Sounds like Tony Mitchell won't be going un-drafted after all.

Season Averages: 21.21 PER—13.1 PPG—7.0 RPG—1.8 APG—1.4 BPG—1.0 SPG

Falling: Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Player Traits: Center—22—6'9"—304 pounds—7'4" wingspan

Renardo Sidney ended the 2012 season weighing somewhere between 265 and 280 pounds. Rather than showing scouts and general managers the encouraging signs they'd desired, thus getting into better physical shape, Sidney grew larger.

Renardo Sidney now weighs 304 pounds with a body-fat percentage of 22.35. The concerns about conditioning have only grown louder. 

Season Averages: 22.7 MPG—19.87 PER—9.7 PPG—5.2 RPG—0.8 SPG—0.7 BPG