NBA Draft 2012: 5 College Prospects Who Need More Experience

As the 2012 NBA Draft fast approaches, questions linger about which prospects will make the cut by the conclusion of the second round. 

Many talented college players will not hear their names called this June 28th, forcing them to tryout for teams, possibly play in the D-League, or head overseas to pursue their careers.

Not being selected on draft day isn't the end all for some top prospects, who will one day work their way into an NBA lineup before ultimately giving up on the game.

Let's take a look at some borderline prospects who could benefit from another year of experience elsewhere.

Scoop Jardine, Syracuse

Syracuse's 6'3", 200 pound point guard has been a team leader for quite some time.

He can shoot and he can pass, but he has left some serious doubt as to whether or not he can play at the next level.

He has an excellent perimeter shot and comes up big in clutch situations, showing poise and leadership that should translate to some professional success.

He has received some criticism for being overweight in the past but has cut some pounds in recent months in an effort to be NBA ready.

According to CNY Central News, he's been traveling all over the country the past few weeks working out for numerous NBA teams and turning some heads.

He's hopeful that his name will be called on draft day, but he shouldn't give up hope if it isn't.

Jae Crowder, Marquette

The 2011-2012 Big East Player of the Year certainly made some noise last season.

Unfortunately for him, his 6'6" height and ability to play defense at an NBA level has brought his basketball future into question by some scouts.

He can shoot the long-ball and attack the rim with authority. He has some post presence but will likely struggle against the bigger three and four players at the next level.

He hopes that his high-motor play and hard work ethic will give him the opportunity to play in the NBA.

Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Villanova had one of their worst seasons in recent memory last year.

Maalik Wayns, the 6'1" point guard was one of the only bright spots for the struggling Wildcats.

He needs to work on distributing the ball better and minimizing his turnovers.

He has shown the ability to put up big numbers, with 39 points this season in a game against Cincinnati. But he needs to be a pass-first player to be effective at the next level. 

He's a very explosive point guard, who according to scouts, may be the quickest player in the 2012 draft class.

There's a chance his name may be called on draft day, but he'd be best suited with another year under his belt elsewhere before trying to make the jump to the NBA.

Yancy Gates, Cincinnati

Cincinnati's big power forward Yancy Gates was a dominating force down low all of last season.

Averaging 8.9 RPG and 12.2 PPG, he proved to be a very effective player for the Bearcats.

Some of the major question marks surrounding him include his attitude, which led to a brawl versus Xavier last season and a six-game suspension for the senior.

The next big issue is his conditioning; he weighs in at over 275 pounds and is just 6'9" tall.

Scouts believe he still has some maturing to do; he certainly would benefit from another year or two of experience in either the D-League or overseas.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue

The 6'8" power forward from Purdue has a few issues that leave NBA teams a bit worried.

For starters, he is as injury prone as they come. He's dealt with back issues since his sophomore year and has torn his ACL twice.

The next major problem is his size.

He's developed some upper body strength since his freshman year which, according to scouts, should help his presence down low at the NBA level. 

That still doesn't erase the fact that he is only 6'8" playing the four with bad knees, which have cost him to lose a step. It will ultimately be tough for him to match up with the bigger, more physical power forwards of the league.

He does have a great perimeter shot for a power forward which may sway the minds of some NBA teams into taking a risk on Purdue's star player.

Another injury-free season either overseas or in the D-League would certainly help his stock.