NBA Draft 2012: College Stars Who Won't Live Up to the Hype

With less than one month until the NBA draft, the first round has started to take shape. It would take a significant development for a prospect's value to change much between now and draft day, so teams are starting to key in on players they will target.

Let's take a look at three college stars projected to go in Round 1 who won't be able to live up to the high expectations that will follow them throughout their rookie years.

Austin Rivers

Aside from likely top overall pick Anthony Davis, no college player generated more hype during his one season at that level than Rivers. Duke's shocking loss in the opening round of the NCAA tournament didn't do anything to change that.

While he averaged 16 points and showcased the ability to create offense off the dribble, his other skills were lacking. His play on the defensive end lacked intensity, and he didn't do enough to help create good looks for his teammates with more turnovers than assists.

At this point, he's simply a one-dimensional player who won't be effective unless he's putting up at least 10 shots per game. NBA teams need a lot more all-around ability from their top pick, especially those picking in the lottery.

Andre Drummond

Drummond had a couple games during his only season at Connecticut that made him seem like a future NBA star, but they were too few and far between. He lacked the consistency necessary to have any level of confidence when it comes to projecting his future.

Everybody can see his upside. He has a great combination of size and athleticism that compares favorably with a lot of post players at the next level. That said, his actual play still needs plenty of work at both ends of the floor.

Whichever team drafts him will need to let him play extended minutes, even though there will likely be a lot of rookie mistakes along the way. Otherwise, he'll be stuck on the bench and he won't develop at all. That's a lot of risk for a potential top-five pick.

Moe Harkless

Another freshman who decided to enter the draft, Harkless averaged 16 points and nine rebounds for St. John's. He could have really used another season in college to develop more versatility, but he'll still land in the first round.

The biggest concern is his lack of a reliable jump shot. Since he's doesn't have the strength necessary to attack the rim on a consistent basis at the next level, it's essential that he's able to knock down mid-range jumpers to keep defenders honest.

Without that, it's going to become a struggle on that end of the floor for him. And since he's only slightly above average on defense, the team who drafts him will have to hope his shot develops quickly for the pick to pay off.