NBA Draft 2012: 5 Future Hall of Fame Candidates

There will be 60 players selected in the 2012 NBA draft. There are five players who have a good shot at making the Hall of Fame.  

When thinking about potential Hall of Fame candidates, we're envisioning great scorers, great defenders and great winners.

These five players fit that mold. 

Getting to the Hall of Fame is tough, but if they work hard and find the right situation, they could find their way to Springfield.

We'll tell you which players have the best shot at reaching the Hall of Fame and why they just might get there. 

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is the consensus No. 1 player in this draft and is all but assured of being the No. 1 pick and starting his career in New Orleans.

The 6'11" freshman averaged 14.3 points per game and grabbed 10 rebounds while leading Kentucky to the national championship.

Davis possesses a special skill set. He can defend and score really well.

As basketball analyst Jay Bilas said to USA Today:

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"Anthony Davis is a future All-Star," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said by phone Tuesday. "I don't have a lot of question marks about him. I think he's going to continue to get better and better."

He's got tremendous defensive range," Bilas said. "He blocked 40 jump shots last year. That's extraordinary. You just don't see that."

 

"

Davis will make an instant impact on the defensive side of the ball, as well as become a top scorer. He will win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards. 

He projects as one of the top centers in the league and could help New Orleans get back into contention.

Davis fits the mold of a great defender that makes the Hall of Fame. When all is said and done, he could protect the rim like Bill Russell or Hakeem Olajuwon and stand next to them in Springfield. 

Kendall Marshall

There are many Hall of Famers who make it because they dish the ball really well.

Kendall Marshall could be that guy.

Marshall averaged 9.8 assists last season, good for second in the nation.

If he can play like that in the NBA, he'll be well on his way.

Hall of Famer John Stockton, the NBA's all-time leader in total assists, averaged 10.5 per game in his career (second only to Magic Johnson's 11.2 assists per game, via NBA.com).

If Marshall can approach that number, he'll be on his way to Springfield.

If Marshall lands on a team that has a prolific scorer, such as Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki, Marshall can start dishing dimes right away.

Marshall is not a score-first guard, which is a rarity in the NBA these days. He is a pass-first, drive-and-dish guard who will make many scorers happy.

That skill set projects well to the NBA and it could be Marshall who finds his way to the Hall of Fame because of it. 

Royce White

At 6'8", Royce White projects as a point-forward in the NBA.

He can bring up the ball, pass it and get to the hoop.

It's an all-around skill set that translates well to the NBA. 

White would be picked in the lottery if not for a well-documented fear of flying that will cause some teams to pass (per NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper). He is now being projected to be selected in the 20s. 

He is similar to LeBron James not only in scoring ability but in his ability to do multiple things and play multiple positions on the court.

White can step into a team and make an instant contribution. He averaged 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds in college. He should only average more as he matures and develops as a player.

White is a special talent who could end up in the Hall of Fame one day. 

Meyers Leonard

Meyers Leonard is raw but oozing with potential. The kind of potential that could land him in the Hall of Fame.

The 7'1", 225-pound Leonard averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in his sophomore season.

Leonard is a prototypical center who wowed in workouts.  He has the athletic skill set needed to succeed at the pivot and flashes scoring and defensive ability.

He is raw, for sure, but has unlimited upside. If he lands in the right situation, perhaps with a veteran center already in place, Leonard can learn and harness that athletic ability.

His rawness can lead some to think that he will bust. It's certainly possible. He's a classic "boom-or-bust" pick. But if he reaches his potential, he will become special. 

If he "booms," he has the skill set to become a star sooner rather than later. And it's the type of skill set that can put him alongside such luminaries as David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon. 

Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger is a rugged, if undersized, power forward prospect who was very productive in college.

The 6'9" Sullinger averaged 17.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in his sophomore season.

Sullinger projects as a terrific interior scorer in the mold of Charles Barkley. Sullinger, like Barkley, is a bit undersized. They are both powerful, athletic players who can wreck havoc in the paint.

Sulllinger has been compared to Kevin Love, who is on his way toward a Hall of Fame career. 

If Sulilinger turns out like either of those players, he'll be next to the greats in Springfield.

Sullinger was projected as a top-five pick in last year's draft had he come out. Now, he's projected as a late lottery pick. Why the change?

Another year of game film for scouts means more things to pick at.  Plus, he does have back issues that need to be checked out (via Cindy Boren of the Washington Post). 

However, he will put up big-time points as well as bring down rebounds; he should be a double-double machine.

He will be a solid, consistent player who will make his team better. At the end of a long career, he could find his way to the Hall of Fame.