NBA Draft 2012: Breaking Down Top Prospects Who Will Shine Right Away

Every team hopes to walk away from the NBA draft with at least one player who will make an immediate impact in his rookie season. There are only a couple of prospects who are surefire choices, however, making them even more valuable.

Let's take a look at three future stars who should have no problem making the jump from college to the NBA. All of them are projected to go in the lottery, so teams will have to pick early to have a chance to land them.

Anthony Davis

A dominant season at Kentucky has established Davis as the top player available in the draft. He averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks while showcasing a lot of poise en route to a national championship with the Wildcats.

The best part about Davis is the fact he'll be a terrific defensive player right out of the gate. Knowing a player can excel at one end of the floor before he even gets drafted is a huge step in the right direction, especially for a post player.

Davis is a rare breed, though. He should provide some offensive punch right away as well. He'll need to add more versatility to his game over time, but he already has the basic skills and size necessary to become a consistent contributor on that end, making him the clear cut No. 1.

Thomas Robinson

Aside from Davis, Robinson is the most complete player in the class. He made steady progress in each of his three seasons with Kansas, and the addition of a more reliable jump shot to his arsenal makes him ready to succeed at the next level.

He averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds in his last season with the Wildcats. The dynamic power forward also showed good distribution skills once teams started doubling him more as the season went on, which will be key at the next level.

All told, he'll be a terrific consolation prize for the lottery “loser” that ends up with the second-overall pick. He won't make the defensive plays Davis will, but he matches up favorably in every other important area.

Jeremy Lamb

Lamb has everything teams look for in a young shooting guard. He has the size to defend opposing guards, the athleticism to endure a long NBA season and, most importantly, a smooth jumper to lead an offensive attack.

He shot 48 percent from the field while averaging 18 points, five rebounds and two three-pointers per game. Lamb did all of that despite a supporting cast that got worse from his freshman to sophomore seasons, illustrating his ability to put the team on his back.

Lamb will need to become a more consistent passer before he reaches superstar status at the next level, but otherwise, he's ready to roll from day one. Only Bradley Beal can compete with him in terms of best guards available, but his extra season of college experience gives Lamb the edge.