2012 NBA Mock Draft: Breaking Down the Most Underrated 1st Round Prospects

Be it a lack of TV exposure, poor chemistry with their current team or just simply being a late bloomer, many NBA players often fall through the cracks when draft time comes.

Thanks to this, many NBA teams later discover they've found a diamond in the rough.  Players that many other teams passed up have now blossomed into NBA stars.

Here is an updated 2012 NBA mock draft with potential star players few are talking about, designated by a special "UNDERRATED ALERT" tagline.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.7 blocks

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'10", 220 pounds

Davis represents the most upside of any player in the draft. His best qualities are his length and feel for the game.

He might get pushed around a bit at center, but at power forward he could immediately enter as one of the best defensive players in the game.

2. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists 

School: Florida

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'3", 207 pounds

Washington has a couple of needs, but shooting guard remains at the top of the list as Jordan Crawford is better suited as a scoring option off the bench.

ESPN's Chad Ford has Beal ranked third on his 2012 big board and for good reason. 

His game has been compared to that of Eric Gordon with a touch of Ray Allen, which any NBA team would love bring on board.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, two assists

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'7", 232 pounds

Despite playing mostly small forward at Kentucky, Kidd-Gilchrist was often tasked with guarding the opponent's best wing player, even if it was their point guard.

This versatility on defense, coupled with a tireless work ethic and outstanding attitude, should only translate to continued success at the next level.

Paired with former high school teammate Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers could have an All-Star backcourt for years to come.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

School: Kansas

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'10", 237 pounds

Robinson would have been the first overall pick in a lot of drafts, but still sees himself going in the top five picks in a loaded 2012 class.

Buried behind the Morris twins of Kansas last season, Robinson broke out and would have been the best player in college basketball if not for Anthony Davis.

A talented scorer from many areas and a tremendous rebounder, Robinson will start in the NBA from day one.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks

School: UConn

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'10", 270 pounds

A huge risk, yes, but centers of his size and athletic ability don't come around very often.

Drummond has a very similar body type to that of Dwight Howard when he came into the league, and while he lacks Howard's athleticism and intensity right now, the comparison is there.

If the Kings can afford to be patient, Drummond could be be a star in a few years.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Damian Lillard, PG/SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, four assists

School: Weber State

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'3", 195 pounds

Lillard is a dynamic do-it-all guard who could inject some scoring into Portland's offensive attack. 

Lillard would likely be pushed into a starting point guard role, as the Blazers struggled to find a full-time answer at the position last season.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, one assist

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

The Warriors have a potential fix at every position except small forward. It only makes sense they select possibly the best small forward in the entire draft.

Barnes is an excellent spot-up shooter who could help spread the floor for Golden State, and with a healthy Andrew Bogut the Warriors could possibly contend for a playoff spot next season.

UNDERRATED ALERT 8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

School: UConn

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'5", 180 pounds

As good as Kemba Walker was at UConn, Lamb easily had the better first two years of college both in box score and overall impact on the team.

Often overlooked when talking about the elite players in this years class, Lamb has the size and skill set to turn into one of the best NBA players of the entire draft.

A great shooter with a tremendous wingspan, Lamb could be the next Rip Hamilton or Reggie Miller with the right system and team.

9. Detroit Pistons: Tyler Zeller, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks 

School: North Carolina

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 7'0", 250 pounds

Detroit gets a true seven-footer with great post moves coming from one of the premier programs in college basketball.

With the Pistons, Zeller's main job would be to rebound and block shots, which goes right along with his scouting report. 

Adding Zeller to the fold would also allow Greg Monroe to move to power forward full-time.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'4", 195 pounds

Marshall won't be an elite point guard by any stretch, but he is fundamentally sound and the best pure floor general in the draft.

His impact on the court was evidenced by UNC's struggles in the NCAA tournament after he went down with a fractured wrist.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Illinois

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 7'1", 245 pounds

Leonard may take a few years, but could develop into an above-average center in the NBA. He already has the size to contribute immediately on the defensive end.

Drafting Leonard might be a bit of a reach but his size and length could make for a very balanced Blazers lineup.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists 

School: Ohio State

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'9", 265 pounds

Sullinger plays a game very reminiscent of Kevin Love. He is an excellent rebounder and scorer around the bucket who can also step out and hit jumpers. 

Expect a double-double every night as Sullinger has an NBA body right now and lost over 30 pounds in college while improving his overall game.

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists 

School: Duke

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'4", 200 pounds

Rivers is too talented to fall much further than this. A pure scorer who never met a shot he didn't like, Rivers would provide instant offense for the Suns.

With Steve Nash likely on his way out, the Suns will need a new face for the franchise and Rivers has the potential to be just that.

14. Houston Rockets: Perry Jones, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Baylor

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'11", 235 pounds

Turned off by a lack of motor, teams pass on Jones enough for him to fall to the middle of the first round.

Jones would no doubt have been a top-five pick in last year's draft if he had declared, but he made no significant improvements in his sophomore year and this is a deeper class.

UNDERRATED ALERT 15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists 

School: Mississippi State

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 230 pounds

A great athlete who some project to go in the first 10 picks of the draft, Moultrie would be a great fit in Philly with his size and rebounding skills.

Backing up Elton Brand or being groomed into a starting center, Moultrie's upside is too great to leave on the bench for long.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Terrence Ross, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists 

School: Washington

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'6", 195 pounds

An excellent shooter coming off screens, Ross has great range and is a capable rebounder as well.

Despite being a tweener on the wing—a bit slow by shooting guard standards and slightly undersized for a small forward—Ross should become a solid contributor over the long haul.

UNDERRATED ALERT 17. Dallas Mavericks: Quincy Miller, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists

School: Baylor

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'9", 210 pounds

Miller is making an extremely questionable decision leaving Baylor after only one season, as he could have really stood out as the go-to guy for the Bears next year.

Be that as it may, Miller still has star potential if a team develops him the right way.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Tony Wroten, PG/SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.7 points, five rebounds, 3.6 assists 

School: Washington

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'5", 205 pounds

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Wroten is a great athlete who can do everything well except shoot from deep.

Going in the mid-to-late first round could be a real steal for whichever team gets him. Minnesota could definitely use an impact shooting guard and should draft Wroten if he's still available.

19. Orlando Magic: Terrence Jones, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 12.5 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Kentucky

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'9", 252 pounds

An athletic combo forward, Jones could start right away or contribute off the bench in Orlando playing either forward position.

With the right coaching and development, Jones could become a Lamar Odom-like talent with his versatile scoring and rebounding.

20. Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague, PG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists 

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'2", 189 pounds

A score-first point guard with a quick first step, Teague is the latest Kentucky point guard looking to make some noise in the NBA.

A decent defender, Teague must improve on his low field-goal (41 percent) and free-throw (71 percent) percentages to excel at the next level.

Andre Miller will be a free agent, and Denver will need to find a replacement for their backup point guard spot.

21. Boston Celtics: John Henson, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

School: North Carolina

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 220 pounds

An athletic, lanky shot-blocker and rebounder, Henson would instantly become a defensive presence in the Boston frontcourt.

With some added muscle, Henson could see some time at center, but for now he projects as a power forward at the NBA level.

UNDERRATED ALERT 22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Moe Harkless, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists

School: St. John's

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'8", 208 pounds

A talented wing who plays a smooth all-around game, Harkless could be a steal at the end of the first round.

As a freshman, Harkless exhibited a nice mid-range game and put up great rebounding numbers.

The 18-year-old shows a feel for the game far beyond his age.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Fab Melo, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks 

School: Syracuse

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 7'0", 255 pounds

Atlanta needs a true center like Melo so they can move Al Horford back to power forward and use Josh Smith as a trade chip. 

Melo would give the Hawks a strong defensive presence inside and add some much-needed size to their frontcourt.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Festus Ezeli, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, two blocks

School: Vanderbilt

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 255 pounds

After taking a wing player in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with their first pick, the Cavs address their need at center with Ezeli.

A power-dunker and shot-blocker, Ezeli doesn't have the highest of ceilings but he represents a good value at this stage of the draft.

His defensive contribution would be immediate and Cleveland needs an insurance clause for the fragile Anderson Varejao.

UNDERRATED ALERT 25. Memphis Grizzlies: Dion Waiters, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists 

School: Syracuse

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 pounds

Memphis will likely lose O.J. Mayo in free agency this summer and will be looking for someone to fill his role as a sixth-man scoring option.

Thankfully for the Grizzlies, Waiters played that same role for the Orange last season as a slasher off the bench.

Learning how to play NBA defense from Tony Allen won't hurt either.

26. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists (France) 

School: Poitiers, International

Age: 19

Height/Weight: 6'6", 200 pounds

Fournier, the first international prospect of the draft, is a crafty finisher around the rim and would provide the Pacers with another offensive weapon. 

The 19-year-old is leading his French team in scoring in just his second pro season.

UNDERRATED ALERT 27. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks 

School: St. Bonaventure

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'9", 220 pounds

A good jump shooter with a great motor, Nicholson has proved to be a capable defender and should immediately improve whatever second unit he lands on.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists 

School: Michigan State

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'7", 230 pounds

OKC doesn't need much at this point but a smart, well-coached player from a top college program certainly wouldn't hurt.

Green could play either forward position and bring it every day in practice. He would certainly work for and earn his minutes on the court.

29. Chicago Bulls: Jeffery Taylor, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists 

School: Vanderbilt

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'7", 225 pounds

A good scorer thanks to his tremendous athleticism, Taylor brings four years of SEC experience and should help improve Chicago's bench immediately.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Royce White, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists 

School: Iowa State

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'8", 270 pounds

White will most likely end up being an undersized power forward in the NBA, even though some of his skills resemble those of a small forward.

He had some of his best games of the season when matched up with the NCAA's top big men—something that should definitely help his draft stock moving forward.