NBA Draft 2012: Ranking Kentucky's 6 Draft-Eligible Prospects

The 2011-2012 Kentucky Wildcats, the reigning NCAA men's basketball champions, sported one of the best starting lineups ever.

All five of those players–and even sixth man Darius Miller–declared for the 2012 NBA Draft.

This sensational sextet did so perhaps mercifully in the eyes of non-Wildcat college basketball fans. The wealth of immense talent between them will now be graciously dispersed to various pro teams.

According to NBADraft.net's latest mock, none of them are projected to be selected lower than No. 37 overall in what is a very deep 2012 class.

Using that mock as context, here is a breakdown of how these Kentucky players stack up against each other as NBA prospects.

6. Marquis Teague

Projected selection: No. 16 (Houston Rockets)

Assessment: Teague is the rawest of these prospects, and it's unclear how his skill set is going to translate immediately to the NBA.

For someone projected so high in the draft, Teague is quite the project player. He doesn't have a consistent jump shot, and relies on his quickness and athleticism to get to the rim.

This strategy worked at Kentucky, but Teague also played alongside so many explosive offensive players that defenses had to account for.

The drive-and-dish style Teague employed as a Wildcat may not be as successful at the next level on a team without an extremely balanced offensive attack.

If Teague is selected relatively early in the draft, he may have to step in and play significant minutes for a borderline playoff team.

While he may provide a spark in the form of perimeter defense and a change of pace from a less athletic point guard, I don't see that working out too well.

Without a good jumper, Teague may get "Rajon Rondo'd" by defenses and be unable to drive due to defenders providing him with a huge cushion.

Until he proves himself as a more polished player who has more of a pass-first mentality and is less turnover-prone, it's difficult to justify taking Teague in the middle of the first round.

A team should more reasonably take Teague later in the first round, and must have shooters he can depend on to kick out to if he's able to slash to the rim in the pros.

5. Darius Miller

Projected selection: No. 37 (Toronto Raptors)

Assessment: The only one of the six players who attended Kentucky for four years, Miller is the most seasoned of all the prospects, even though he arguably possesses the least amount of natural talent.

Whatever team ends up selecting Miller will be getting a savvy wing player who doesn't have to be the star of the team to keep his morale up. He is an efficient jump shooter and plays stellar defense.

Miller brings a lot of similar basketball skills and intangibles to the table as his Wildcat teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is projected to go in the lottery.

Although NBADraft.net's mock has Miller going in the early part of the second round, the notion that an elite NBA squad could make a slight reach for him late on Round 1 isn't a stretch.

Don't be surprised if that happens, and don't be surprised if Miller immediately contributes as a role player on a title contender.

After all, he's used to playing such a role on a winning pseudo-NBA team.

4. Doron Lamb

Projected selection: No. 33 (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Assessment: The super sophomore has a sweet stroke that translates to the most immediate offensive success in the NBA.

Lamb is a dead-eye three-point shooter, can create his own offense off the dribble and also has an exceptional mid-range game.

The knock on him is that he may be a "tweener" at the NBA level.

Using his translatable point guard and shooting guard skills, Lamb could become something in the mold of Mo Williams 2.0.

If a team decided to stick Lamb, 6'4", 199 pounds, at the point, he could do some serious damage on and off the ball in the right offensive system.

Although he may not be a spectacular passer or insanely athletic enough to get to the rim with ease in the pros, Lamb has a high basketball IQ and consistently makes the correct play.

What is also admirable about Lamb is that he shows tremendous effort on the defensive end of the floor.

Lamb could see significant playing time in the NBA next season as a combo guard, if for no other reason than that he can shoot the heck out of the ball (.485 FG%, .475 3PT%, .811 FT% at UK).

3. Terrence Jones

Projected selection: No. 17 (Dallas Mavericks)

Assessment: It's hard to deny the level of talent Jones has, and he has the freakish NBA body to go with it at 6'9", 252 pounds.

Although it's unclear what position Jones will play in the NBA, between the 3 and the 4, he will be a match-up problem either way.

He would have a perennial size advantage on almost any NBA small forward, and would instantly be among one of the most athletic and physically gifted power forwards in the league if he played there.

However, after two years at Kentucky, Jones never developed a consistent mid-range game.

That added dimension could be key to Jones' success as a pro. He could exploit man-to-man defenses off the dribble regardless of what position he plays if he had a respectable 15-foot jump shot.

He already has fairly effective post moves, and can use his quickness to blow by defenders in those situations.

Due to his thick frame and length, the abilities Jones displayed in college to bother shots and quickly close passing lanes should carry over to the pro level.

Jones is also a great, physical rebounder who can get out in transition and is a terror in the open court.

With that combination, Jones will be impossible to resist beyond the middle of the first round.

2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Projected selection: No. 5 (Sacramento Kings)

Assessment: Earlier mocks from NBADraft.net–and numerous others–had Kidd-Gilchrist going No. 2 overall to the Charlotte Bobcats.

I wrote last month that Kidd-Gilchrist would be the best fit for the Kings' struggling franchise.

As has been well-documented, the soft-spoken Kidd-Gilchrist took the leadership reins on Kentucky's national championship team despite only being a freshman.

Kidd-Gilchrist brings a winning attitude, a wonderful work ethic, and a competitive spirit a team like the Kings, or anyone in the top five, are in dire need of.

He was also arguably the best perimeter defender in the SEC last season, with the possible exception of Vanderbilt's Jeffrey Taylor.

Although not superbly polished offensively and lacking a consistent jump shot, Kidd-Gilchrist should provide a positive spark for a franchise mired in a culture of losing.

Perhaps if he is indeed headed to Sacramento, Kidd-Gilchrist can push the right buttons to get the most out of mercurial big man and former fellow Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins.

The intangibles and leadership Kidd-Gilchrist provides–in addition to the relative completeness of his game despite just one year of college–makes him the second-best Kentucky prospect in this draft.

1. Anthony Davis

Projected selection: No. 1 (New Orleans Hornets)

Assessment: The consensus No. 1 overall pick since mocks began, Davis is clearly the best prospect the Kentucky Wildcats have to offer the 2012 NBA Draft.

Davis possesses elite defensive ability. He can rebound very well and frequently block shots, as he proved by averaging an astounding 4.7 blocks per game last season.

Thanks to a seven-inch growth spurt in high school, Davis possesses many guard-like qualities on offense, including a nice shooting touch and fantastic passing skills.

You name it, and Davis can probably do it. He won college basketball's Naismith Player of the Year Award, and also was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

The only aspect relatively concerning about Davis is his lankiness at 6'10" and 222 pounds.

Something tells me he will fill that frame out at least a little bit though, considering he just turned 19 years old in March.

With room still to grow and with such versatility, Davis has seemingly limitless potential as player.

Davis's recent trademark on the defining characteristic of his countenance should indeed cause NBA opponents to "Fear The Brow" for many years to come.