NBA Draft 2012: 5 Underrated Prospects Who Will Become All-Stars

The 2012 NBA Draft has a large collection of underrated prospects that have the potential to become all-stars when they make it into the league.

Tyshawn Taylor is one guy that fits that mold. He hasn't received the hype that Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond or Damian Lillard has received, but he could very well end up being one of the better players of this draft class.

For whatever reason, several other players are in the same situation as Taylor. These players all have the skills to succeed in the NBA, but scouts and analysts have glanced right over them when creating their mock drafts.

Because this season's draft isn't too deep, we could see several underrated players turn into perennial all-stars in the future.

Tyshawn Taylor

In a previous article, I mentioned Tyshawn Taylor as a guy who could sneak into the first round. I don't only think that he could become a first rounder, I think that he could become an all-star.

Taylor, a combo-guard from the University of Kansas, broke out as a senior last season. He averaged 16.6 points per game and led the Jayhawks to the NCAA Championship game.

His great speed, aggressive play and excellent ball-handling make him a threat to go to the basket every time he touches the ball. This explosiveness results in many trips to the free throw line, a place where he averaged 5.1 shots per game as a senior.

He shot 38.2 percent from beyond the arc that season as well. His jump shot and ability to create his own looks is already very good, although he is still working on improving both aspects of his game.

Players capable of creating their own shots are often among the league leaders in scoring, and those players are often the first ones selected to their respective all-star team.

Taylor's has the potential to turn into a pure-scorer, something that's hard to come by in today's game.

Tony Wroten

Tony Wroten, a combo-guard out of Washington, profiles as an early second-rounder at best. To be perfectly honest, I'm not quite sure why.

Wroten is a playmaker that can either take you off the dribble or step back and knock down a jump shot. At 6'5", he even has the ability to play a bit above the rim.

The most remarkable thing about his game is his uncanny court vision. He knows where everybody is one the court at all times, and miraculous passes are almost expected from him.

His ability to drive to the basket leaves his teammates open on the outside. Naturally, he often finds them for some easy buckets.

Other than Wroten's ability to hit a jumper, his scouting report reminds me a lot of Rajon Rondo's. Call it an unfair comparison if you want, but there's no denying the similarities.

Rondo also has outstanding court vision, can take defenders off the dribble and can find his teammates while in traffic.

Whichever team grabs him in the second round could potentially have selected the steal of the draft and a perennial all-star candidate.

Royce White

Royce White of Iowa State has been underrated by teams because of his off-court troubles.

While teams may be afraid of drafting a player with a questionable demeanor, White's abilities on the court should make selecting him much easier. It may be a risk, but he's definitely worth it.

White has the size at 6'8" to be a presence in the low post, but also handles the ball well enough to play along the perimeter.

His ball-handling skills have opened up a variety of moves under the basket, and they have also contributed to his mid-range game.

Both aspects of his game are above average, and some could even go so far as to call his post game stellar.

He's very physical and isn't afraid to get into scuffles underneath the basket.

Put all these things together and it sounds like you have an all-star-caliber player. He may not be drafted until the end of the first round, but don't overlook the big man from Iowa State. He has serious skills.

Terrence Ross

Jeremy Lamb, Dion Waiters, Bradley Beal and Austin Rivers are all well-known shooting guard prospects that will likely get taken in the early part of the first round.

Terrence Ross, the running mate of Tony Wroten in Washington, should have his name mentioned with those prospects. However, for some reason, it isn't.

Because he played for Washington, Ross never received the hype and media attention he deserved. If he were a member of a larger program, there's no doubt that we'd be talking about him as one of the draft's elite prospects.

He scored 16.4 points per game as a sophomore, and shot a respectable 37.1 percent from beyond the arc. His scoring ability is undeniable, and there's no reason why his game won't translate to the NBA.

With his reputation as a pure scorer following him into the NBA, all he'll have to do is produce before people start to take notice.

In my mind, he'll be an underrated player until he gets named to his first all-star team—something that should happen within a few seasons.

Jared Cunningham

Jared Cunningham is a complete player capable of playing solid defense while also contributing on the offensive end.

He's one of the top on-ball defenders in this draft class, and he's capable of shutting down the opposition's best scorer on the perimeter.

Defense alone won't get a prospect drafted, though. This is where Cunningham's offensive talents come into play.

He finished second in the Pac-12 in scoring last season at 17.9 points per game, mostly because of his ridiculous leaping ability. This leaping ability and baffling athleticism helps him attack the rim and finish strong at the basket.

His jumper is nothing special at this point, but there's plenty of room for improvement for the junior out of Oregon State.

Cunningham could establish himself as one of the most complete players in the NBA in a few years time, and that's certainly enough to warrant an all-star selection or two.