2012 NBA Mock Draft: Who's Hot, Who's Not

We're almost 24 hours away from the 2012 NBA draft, and the big board is really starting to take shape.  In the past few days alone, some players' stocks have skyrocketed, like those of Thomas Robinson (pictured) and Bradley Beal, while players like Perry Jones III have seen them fall.

Needless to say, tomorrow is going to be a great night for both the NBA and those drafted.  This year's draft class is full of talent and to be honest, I'm excited to watch them next season.

Hot or not, each player will definitely bring something special to the game.  In fact, let's go down the big board and have a look at who's soaring and falling going into tomorrow night.

Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

I have reservations about Davis, as his skinny 6'10", 220-pound frame has me concerned, but scouts seem to love the guy.  He's got a great basketball IQ and a great willingness to learn, plus he's a great shot blocker. 

Last year at Kentucky, he averaged 4.7 blocks per game as well as a double-double in his 14.3 points and 10 rebounds.

Needless to say, it's a safe bet that the New Orleans Hornets are getting a great young star on their team next year, even better in that he's one who could start contributing immediately.

Verdict: Hot

Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

All this week, Beal's stock has been soaring higher and higher.  Despite the fact that he turns 19 tomorrow, scouts love his overall athleticism and basketball IQ.  Once thought to be just a Top 5 pick, some experts now have him going as high as second.

He wasn't the most consistent shooter in his sole year with the Gators, but his overall skills and intangibles more than make up for it.  Whichever team snags him is drafting not only a great player, but a bright future.

Verdict: Hot

Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

A junior, Robinson really stepped up in his first year as a starter for the Jayhawks, averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds.  When the draft first started being discussed, I and others had him and Davis going within the first two picks.

That may not be the case anymore with Beal's stock rising, but it doesn't take away from the skills that Robinson brings to the table.  No matter how you look at it, he's still a great selection.

Verdict: Hot

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Earlier this month, people were so high on MKG that some had him pegged as being picked second after his teammate Davis.  However, this week, the freshman's stock has dropped.

Scouts seem to doubt his ability to make shots consistently, and his shooting 25 percent from long range is a cause for concern.  Still, he's only 18 years old and one of the most coachable players in the draft.

Yet, given the hype around him, this drop is a bit odd.

Verdict: Not

Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, Barnes is expected to slip to the Sacramento Kings' spot at No. 5, even though he really doesn't want to play for them.  That said, there's definitely the possibility that the team will look to trade down.

Barnes has the potential to be a talented scorer, but the whole situation with him not wanting to play in Sacramento is oddly reminiscent of the 1999 draft, when the then-Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Steve Francis with the second pick and he essentially forced a trade to the Houston Rockets because he didn't want to play in Canada.

If this is the sign of Barnes having an attitude problem, then perhaps his stock is lower than we initially thought.

Verdict: Not

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Most seem to be of the opinion that Lillard will be taken by Portland at No. 6, filling their gaping void at point guard.  Normally, I'm skeptical about scoring point guards being taken so high in the draft, but Kyrie Irving did a great job of proving me wrong this past season.

Lillard averaged 24.5 points per game for Weber State last year and with each day that goes by, he's looking more like a tremendous athlete and less like a star player at a small school.

Given how the Blazers need an injection of life into their lineup, this man certainly looks like the perfect candidate.

Verdict: Hot

Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse

Waiters is the type of player who, under normal circumstances, isn't normally a lottery pick.  Yet, he stands out from the rest of the swingmen in the fact that he has the best motor out of them all.  He can shoot, play great defense, and is a phenomenal dunker.

Should he be available when the Warriors take their turn at No. 7, the team would be cheating itself by not selecting him. 

He provides a solid bench presence and though he stands only 6'4", he has the tenacity and speed to even see some time at small forward. 

Long story short, the kid is GOOD.

Verdict: Hot

Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

To keep myself occupied during the lockout, I actually put together a 2012 mock draft.  In it, I had Drummond going first overall as he was a highly hyped prospect that some saw as the key to the Huskies winning back-to-back titles.

Instead, he looked lost most of the year and while his defense was solid, his offensive game proved to be raw as his team struggled all year long.  In the NCAA tournament, in which UConn was eliminated by Iowa State in the round of 64, he made little to no impact.

His size still makes him a lottery pick, but a huge gamble nonetheless.

Verdict: Not

John Henson, PF, North Carolina

At first glance, Henson doesn't look like a dominant power forward.  He's very skinny at 6'10" and just 220 pounds.

Yet, this young man still attacks the rim with determination, especially on defense.  His long arms are his greatest strength as he definitely has what it takes to be a dominant shot blocker on the professional level. 

He recently worked out for the Detroit Pistons and according to Chad Ford, he "shined."

If the Pistons do indeed draft him, they'll finally have a reliable power forward since the days of Rasheed Wallace.

Verdict: Hot

Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Though I thought him declaring for the draft was a premature and immature move on his part, Rivers seems to be rocketing his way up the draft board.  Despite his one-sided game and age, teams seem to really like him.

Thus far, he's looking like the Klay Thompson of this year's draft, and though Thompson didn't get significant playing time until after the Monta Ellis trade, he still has a bright future.  Such seems to be the case for Rivers.

Verdict: Hot

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

To be honest, Leonard is the last man I thought would be a top draft prospect.  Yet, he used his 7'1" frame well this year and appears to be impressing lots of scouts.

It's unclear as to what kind of role or impact he will have on the professional level, but one thing is certain.  He's got drive and determination and combined with his defense, he carries a ton of long-term potential.

Verdict: Hot

Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

The truth about Lamb is that he's a scorer and dunker.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Given the way he plays the game, he'll be best suited on a team that runs, runs and runs some more.

Unfortunately for Lamb, he sprained his ankle during a workout and hasn't been able to do much this week, though he did tough it out for one the Suns held. 

Still, his inability to do so for the most part, plus the fact that he doesn't play tough defense, hurts him.

I think he's a lot of fun to watch, but that only holds so much water in the pros.

Verdict: Not

Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller's greatest strengths are his size and his attitude.  He's extremely coachable and has good size at 7'0", 250 pounds.

However, though he was a great college center, I don't see Zeller having a smooth transition to the NBA.  He runs the floor well, but he's a project. 

Until he can work on his overall athleticism and become more like the aforementioned Meyers Leonard, he could become stuck as just another big body on whichever team takes him.

Still, teams seem to like him and he'll surely be gone by the lottery, which is always a good sign.

Verdict: Hot

Terrence Ross, G/F, Washington

Ross is a special kind of player in the same way as Dion Waiters.  He can play both guard and forward and has tremendous athleticism.

Adding onto Ross's list of positive attributes is that he could probably start playing immediately.  His scoring touch is delicately amazing and he's no slouch crashing the boards, either.

Verdict: Hot

Moe Harkless, F, St. John's

Being a New Yorker, it always makes me happy to see players from St. John's do well.  Harkless is no exception as despite only being a freshman, he plays with the basketball IQ and tenacity of a senior. 

In his sole season for the Red Storm, he averaged 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the floor.

On top of that, Harkless defends each position unbelievably well.  He has decent size at 6'8", 208 pounds, so there's room for him to put on some muscle. 

It's unclear what kind of role he'll have in the NBA, but one thing is for certain. He seems destined to be remembered in a positive light for a long time.

Verdict: Hot

Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

I said it once and I'll say it again.  Terrence Jones is the sleeper of this year's draft.

The man is simply a monster on defense, having a great NBA body at 6'9", 252 pounds.  He's a solid defender, goes after every rebound and is proving to be a decent shot blocker as well. 

On offense, he could probably tear the iron off the backboard if he dunked hard enough.

No matter where he ends up, his new team's defense is going to become a hell of a lot stronger with him on the floor.

Verdict: Hot

Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

Moultrie's Mississippi State Bulldogs didn't make it to the big dance this year, but he was still an effective big man in averaging 15.8 points and 10.6 boards in his lone season there, after transferring from the University of Texas at El Paso.

He isn't the best big man available by any means, but Moultrie has impressed to the point where he is now probably a mid-first round pick instead of a late one.  At 6'11", 230 pounds, he's got a bright future helping some team's frontcourt.

Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Jones' NBA career is going to go one of two ways.  He'll either get it together and become an effective scoring big man, or his lack of commitment to defense will come back to bite him and run him out of the league.

On one hand, he is 6'11", 235 pounds and an overall good athlete.  The only problem is that he likes to score more than he plays defense.

As a result, his stock has plummeted this week.

Verdict: Not

Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall is a pass-first point guard, and his lack of scoring probably has some teams scared.  He averaged 9.7 assists last year to just 7.8 points, but that isn't a bad thing at all. 

If you had guys like John Henson, Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller on the court with you, wouldn't you be passing the ball a lot?

Simply put, Marshall is a born leader and has impressed some scouts.  Wherever he goes, he'll get his fair share of playing time and soon blossom into a talented floor general.

Verdict: Hot

Royce White, F, Iowa State

White is easily the biggest enigma of this year's draft, as his struggle with an anxiety disorder and fear of flying have made teams wary of drafting him.  Still, his talent is undeniable, as he is tough on the inside and handles the ball well for someone his size.

However, as reported by Chad Ford, White has stopped all workouts and has a first-round promise from a mystery team.  If he's as talented as he seems, it'll be interesting to see where he ends up.

Verdict: Hot

Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson has the great advantage of being a power forward with an incredible jump shot.  He also has good size at 6'10", 234 sounds.  In terms of draft surprises, I'd rank him right below Terrence Jones.

Lots of teams are in the market for a scoring forward and even though Nicholson spent his college years in the fairly easy Atlantic 10 Conference, he is more skilled than he seems.

Verdict: Hot

Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Green is one of those athletic forwards that coaches dream about.  He is a great athlete and has an unbelievable willingness to learn and improve his game.  Sure, he may seem small at 6'7", 230 pounds, but his determination is unlike anyone else's.

Right now, on heart alone, he reminds me a lot of Kenneth Faried.  On the right team, he'll be a great contributor.

Verdict: Hot

Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo has good size at 7'0", 255 pounds, but can't really do much besides block shots. 

On top of that, he struggled academically at Syracuse, which raises questions about his attitude and ability to be coached, not to mention his motor.

If he wanted to play so badly, wouldn't he have made a greater effort in the classroom?

Verdict: Not

Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

At one point, Sullinger was expected to be a lottery pick as he was a dominant power forward in two years with the Buckeyes.  Now, his stock continues to plummet as doctors have red-flagged a recurring back injury.

Though such an injury is not to be taken lightly, he still has potential to be a decent big man on the professional level.  For all we know, once he gets to the NBA, he'll be effective and concerns over his injury will be a thing of the past.

Yet, the stock dropping speaks for itself.

Verdict: Not

Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Teague isn't the best point guard in the draft by a long shot, but his natural athleticism is undeniable. 

He didn't put up impressive numbers in his sole year at college, but there's no denying he has great talent, particularly since he and big brother Jeff (of the Atlanta Hawks) share the same athlete genes.

He isn't a sure thing, but to not gamble on him would be a crying shame.

Verdict: Hot

Tony Wroten, G, Washington

Wroten is big for a point guard at 6'6", 200 pounds and has decent scoring ability.  Yet, for a floor general, his passing numbers are not what they should be.  More importantly, he is a streaky shooter and his three-point shot is abysmal for someone his height.

I understand that he's only 19, but he just seems too impulsive for the NBA now.  Had he spent one more year in school, maybe he could have been a lottery pick next year.  This time, however, he's a big risk.

Verdict: Not

Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Entering this year's draft, Lamb seemed to be little more than a three-point shooter.  Now, he's looking more like a complete guard. 

Sure, he's like John Jenkins of Vanderbilt in that he's basically just someone with a magical shooting touch, but it seems that his jumper is starting to look good in front of the arc, too.

Maybe he could be the second coming of Ray Allen?

Verdict: Hot

Quincy Miller, F, Baylor

Miller is a dynamic forward and a phenomenal athlete, but his stock has slipped due to concerns over an old knee injury.  Even though it's a legitimate concern to have, his upside is just so incredible that to not take a chance on him could be missing out on a great sleeper.

Still, his 6'9", 210-pound frame carries uncertainty over what position he'll play in the pros.  Yet, that's a battle to be had post-draft.  The fact remains that Miller is just plain talented and could be a great contributor on the right team.

Verdict: Hot

Will Barton, G/F, Memphis

Barton is special in that he can drive to the basket just as well as he can score from the outside.  In his sophomore season, he averaged 18.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.  He's a bit small to be a rebounder on the professional level, being just 6'6", 185 pounds.

Still, NBA teams aren't looking for him to play defense.  They want him to score, and Barton can do that plenty.

Verdict: Hot

Jeffery Taylor, F, Vanderbilt

Taylor is a phenomenal athlete who plays great defense, but that only holds so much water in the NBA.  Those skills are a far cry from the 16.4 points he averaged his senior year. 

Seeing as how he can't create his own shot to save his life, Taylor is looking more like a bench pest as the draft countdown ticks lower.

The talent is there, but the odds of him being a complete forward in the pros are pretty slim.

Verdict: Not