NBA Draft 2012: College Stars Who Aren't Worth Lottery Picks

The 2012 NBA Draft is quickly approaching and teams are scrambling to make the right choice for their future.  The draft is loaded with talent this year and there are also a number of players who won't quite live up to expectations.

There are plenty of teams looking for that one player that they can build their franchise around and one pick can either make or break their immediate future.

Every year there are three or four players who are considered busts and this year is no different.  Here is a list of four guys that I think aren't worth taking with a lottery pick.

Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters is a stand-out athletic shooting guard from Syracuse.  He is 6'4" which makes an undersized NBA shooting guard. 

Many experts are concerned with his lack of size at the shooting guard position.  He will have a hard time guarding guys that are consistently taller than he is.

He is a solid shooter from long range and he can dribble and create his own shot, but will have a disadvantage in his size and quickness when trying to create in the NBA.

He has quick hands and feet that can make him a solid defensive threat, but played zone defense in college, which prevented him from defending one-on-one against premier players like he will have to do at the next level.

Overall, if he can somehow develop speed and quickness to transition into a point guard, he could be a lethal weapon.  As of right now, however, he doesn't look like he will make that smooth of a transition at the next level and he may not be worth a lottery pick.

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber St.

Yes, Lillard is rated the top point guard in the entire draft class, but there are very few point guards in the draft.

He is projected to go to the New Orleans Hornets with the No. 4 pick, a team that is looking for a franchise point guard after losing Chris Paul last offseason.

Lillard is 6'3" and from Weber State.  He has established himself as one of the nation's most prolific scorers.  However, he has not proven himself consistently against top-tiered NCAA opponents.

It is always a huge risk taking a player from a mid-major conference because of the lack of quality opponents.  It is hard to judge such players based on the mediocre teams that they face.

Lillard averaged 24.5 points and 4.0 assists last season, but will need to become more of a passer if he wants to make it as a point guard in the NBA.  He has big shoes to fill with the loss of Paul, so in order for him to adequately fill the superstar's shoes, he will need to make his teammates better—something he has a hard time of doing in college.

Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Defense, quickness and athleticism are three things that have been questioned when discussing the big man from Ohio State.

Sullinger was a force in college and consistently put up points and rebounds, seemingly earning himself a double-double every night.  However, what is considered a 'big man' in college is not always considered the same in the NBA.

He is an undersized power forward with a huge question mark because of a lack of athleticism.  He played in the Big Ten where big men didn't have to be quick or athletic, they just had to pound it inside and put the ball in the hoop.

He was in a dog fight night after night and usually came out on top.  However, Sullinger will surely struggle at the next level because he won't have the size to stop NBA power forwards, the quickness to keep up on defense or the athleticism to get down the court and finish above the rim with consistency. 

He has already dropped out of the lottery pick area, according to many experts because of his bad back, but his lack of an adequate skill set could drop him even lower.  Sullinger may have a short-lived NBA career if he doesn't work on his weaknesses and make them his strengths.

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard is a huge body that could be a force at the next level.  That is, if he can play up to his potential.

He has a daunting 7'1", 250-pound frame that sent chills down opponents' spine in college.  The task of a college center trying to guard the big man was a tall one and unfortunately, Leonard didn't take advantage of that.

At times in his sophomore season, it seemed as if he was lost on the court, spending too much time standing on the perimeter instead of creating a inside presence in the paint.  He has a solid jumper that could use some work, but he needs to work more on his post moves.

The one thing that stands out is that Meyers lacks a go-to post move that can get him to the rim with regularity.  He lacks confidence and sometimes lacks motivation to play up to his potential.  These are two things you can't lack at the next level or you will get eaten alive. 

Teams should be weary of his inconsistent play at Illinois and failure to take advantage of his large frame.  He is worth a first-round pick, but maybe not a lottery pick.