NBA Draft Projections: Prospects Sure to Go Higher Than Expected

The 2012 NBA Draft is just three days away. Basketball fans generally get very excited following the conclusion of the NBA Finals.

Soon-to-be draftees are anxiously awaiting their time to shine under the lights. They're getting those fancy suits in preparation for their big night.

This is the time of year when trade rumors swirl leading up to the draft. Listed below are a few players that are moving up draft boards and could go higher than expected. 

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is flying up draft boards all over the NBA. The former Weber State point guard has many positive traits that have teams drooling over his skill-set.

He's 6'3, 189 lbs. That is a fine size for a point guard coming into the NBA.

The positives of his game are that he is a great penetrator, he's a great scorer, he's a hardworker and has a high basketball I.Q.

Chad Ford of ESPN reports that Lillard is the best point guard in the draft. It will likely make him a top-ten selection

Perry Jones III

Perry Jones III has huge upside. He's listed at 6'11, 235 lbs. He could seemingly dominant when he felt like it in college. 

There are some questions about Jones III. He lacked consistency and it's perceived by some that he lacks a high motor.

Regardless, Jones III's athleticism and huge potential will most likely cause a team to draft him within the top-ten picks of the draft.

Fab Melo

Fab Melo is a bit of a project player, but teams really like his size. He's 7'0 and weighs 255 lbs. He is a prototypical, old-school center.

He will take some time to develop, but could become a really solid big man in the association for years to come.

Melo will have to answer questions about his past at Syracuse, but a team in the top-half of the draft will likely take a chance on the big man.

Austin Rivers

Doc Rivers's son, Austin Rivers, was a freshman standout at Duke last season. He has been a highly regarded prospect all along, but the scouting combine only improved his stock.

Rivers' measured at just about 6'4, a fine height for a shooting guard in the NBA. He's only 19 years old and has a high ceiling.

He will likely need to put on some muscle to compete with the athleticism of NBA players, but he will be able to in time. 

He's young and has yet to grow into the body of a man. He will likely be a very high selection in this year's draft.

Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones helped the Kentucky Wildcats win a National Championship this past season. He's 6'9 and weighs 252 lbs. He played some power forward in college, but will likely have to play small forward in the NBA.

Jones was an anomaly for the Wildcats in a sense; he actually stayed beyond his freshman year! Nonetheless, he will probably translate into a solid NBA player.

It's likely he will be a player taken in the top-half of the draft.