NBA Draft 2012: Anthony Davis and 6 Can't-Miss Potential All-Stars

The 2012 NBA draft will be coming up very soon, and this will be one of the deeper and more talented drafts since the 2008 NBA draft that had the likes of current All-Stars Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.

There are always can't-miss prospects like Anthony Davis in this year's NBA draft, who have loads of talent and potential, but there are also other guys who will thrive in the right situation and with the right team. 

You will notice in that same 2008 NBA draft that All-Star Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers was picked at No. 17.

Although Hibbert was picked much later in the first round, he has proven to be irreplaceable for the Indiana Pacers.

Who will be the can't-miss potential All-Stars in the 2012 NBA draft?

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is head-and-shoulders above every other player in the 2012 NBA draft class.

He is very similar to Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder, wherein Davis is very long and athletic. He's an excellent shot-blocker and efficient all over the floor.

Ibaka and Davis are the same height at 6'10'', but Ibaka weighs 235 pounds—15 pounds more than Davis.

Moreover, Davis obviously needs to add strength and is still developing a post game, but he has can't-miss potential, as he will produce now and will only get better in the future.

Furthermore, it is not a matter of when Davis will become an All-Star, it is a matter of how many times over this kid will be named an All-Star. 

NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard, who is 6'2'' and 185 pounds, is the best point guard in the 2012 NBA draft.

Lillard might have played for Weber State in college, but the kid can ball.

He was more of a scorer in college, so he can shoot with great efficiency from the three-point line, can penetrate getting into the lane and can dunk with ferociousness.

Since he is a scoring point guard, he resembles All-Star Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder in that he is a scorer first and distributor second.

Lillard needs to get better with his floor vision, but there are many teams that might trade up in the 2012 NBA draft that need a young scoring point guard, including the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns.

NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook

Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters has great potential and is one of the top shooting guards in the 2012 NBA draft.

Waiters, who is 6'4'' and 215 pounds, is an extraordinary scorer who scored in bunches while at Syracuse in limited action, as he was the sixth man and came off the bench.

Waiters is also a good ball-handler and can pass with efficiency.

By the way, Waiters can also get steals and defend, so the player that comes up more and more to describe Dion Waiters is multiple All-Star and NBA Champion Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

According to ESPN NBA draft expert Chad Ford: 

"

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." 

"

NBA Comparison: Dwayne Wade

Arnett Moultrie

Arnett Moultrie is by far one of the most underrated big men in the 2012 NBA draft.

Moultrie is long and athletic, and he can rebound and score inside and outside.

He can run the floor well and is a very good free-throw shooter for a big man, as he shot 78 percent at Mississippi State last season.

Moultrie does spend some time outside and attempted 18 three-pointers last season, so he needs to stay inside the perimeter more.

Moultie's game reminds me a lot of All-Star and NBA Champion Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics as far as his game goes.

Both are 6'11'' (although Garnett has added some muscle over the years), both can score inside and outside, both have been known to shoot from the perimeter on occasion, both can rebound and both can play defense but are not effective shot-blockers.

Garnett's numbers in the last couple seasons are nearly identical to Moultrie at Mississippi State. 

Moreover, Moultrie will be good for many years in the NBA and will be a steal in the 2012 NBA draft. 

NBA Comparison: Kevin Garnett

Kendall Marshall

Kendall Marshall was one of the best passers in college basketball last season and is the best passer in the 2012 NBA draft.

Marshall is 6'4'' and 195 pounds and has excellent vision on the court, breaking several assist records for North Carolina last season.

Marshall's game resembles former longtime NBA player and current coach of the Golden State Warriors Mark Jackson.

Jackson played in the league for several years and was not an explosive athlete, but he was a distributor first to get his teammates involved, and scoring came second.

Marshall will have the same mold as Jackson and will be a consistent NBA point guard for years to come.

I would not be surprised to see Marshall be taken by a team with shooters and scorers that is just missing a distributing point guard in the 2012 NBA daft, like the Portland Trail Blazers. 

NBA Comparison: Mark Jackson

Draymond Green

Draymond Green is 6'7'', 235 pounds and was on the best college players that will be in the 2012 NBA draft.

I understand he plays the small forward position, and there are a lot of experts out there that say he is not quick enough for the small forward and not big enough for the power forward spot.

Last time I checked, if you can rebound in college you can definitely rebound in the NBA.

Green's game has multiple strengths in terms of rebounding, shooting and passing. Moreover, Green's game is compared to an NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

Barkley could do it all, and he was 6'6'' and 250 pounds. Furthermore, Green already has the experience of playing four years of college ball, and he can do a little bit of everything.

Green is definitely a sleeper in the 2012 NBA draft, but he has the type of game that will be naming him an All-Star in the future.   

NBA Comparison: Charles Barkley

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones is 6'8'', 250 pounds and will most likely be drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft.

Jones can shoot, was the best rebounder in college and can run the floor.

As a result, Jones can best be compared to Metta World Peace of the Los Angeles Lakers.

World Peace is 6'7'' and 260 pounds, can run the floor well, can shoot from anywhere and is a great rebounder.

Furthermore, Jones will be a solid player for years to come, and if he lands on a team in the right situation in the 2012 NBA draft then he can also be an All-Star, just like World Peace was. 

NBA Comparison: Metta World Peace