Anthony Davis Will Have No Trouble Living Up to Enormous NBA Hype

Barring a shocking turn of events, Anthony Davis will be selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the first overall pick in the NBA draft at the month's end and the Kentucky product will spend the next decade proving he was worth the investment.

Davis heads to the next level with an amazing amount of hype after leading the Wildcats to a national championship in his only college season. He averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks en route to National Player of the Year honors from most major outlets.

The Chicago native sports an extremely rare combination of size, athleticism and basketball instincts that will allow him to make a major impact right away. On the defensive end, his shot-blocking prowess will make him a nightmare matchup for opponents.

What was often overlooked during his dominant season at Kentucky was his ability to block shots without fouling. He averaged just two fouls per game despite playing aggressively on the defensive end on nearly every possession.

That's more important than it may seem. A lot of players who play that style of defense are prone to foul trouble because they tend to get a little overzealous. Not Davis, who should immediately be a strong competitor for the NBA's defensive honors.

Add rebounding and a developing offensive game to that elite defense and you have a complete player—at the age of 19, no less, which leaves plenty of time for him to keep improving.

He worked hard to add more versatility on offense with a reliable mid-range jump shot to go along with his usual layups in the paint. Eventually he'll refine that portion of his game, making him even more unstoppable.

It's always tough on players like Davis, because expectations are through the roof from the moment they step on the floor for their first NBA game. But if there's anybody in the draft class that can handle it, it's Davis.

He has all the tools necessary to become a regular All-Star Game participant and one of the league's best all-round post players. You can't ask for more than that from a teenage prospect.

The only concern raised has been a lack of pure strength, which isn't surprising considering his body hasn't filled out. That should come with time and a more refined workout regiment. Otherwise, he's ready to roll from day one.

And he'll keep rolling for many years to come.