Olympic Basketball 2012: International Players NBA Scouts Will Be Watching

Basketball at the Summer Olympics is one of the most prestigious sport's tournaments in the entire world. 

The best players from all over the world represent their respective countries in hopes to bring glory to themselves and their nation. 

Due to the level of talent at the competition, many of the finest basketball leagues in the world, including the NBA, will scout players from across the planet and see how they perform on the biggest stage. 

Here are eight international stars whom scouts will have an eye on in London. 

Sergio Llull, Spain

Sergio Llull has dominated European basketball for several years now, and he was selected to represent powerhouse Spain in the Olympics. 

Llull claimed the Spanish King Cup MVP earlier this year, and he averaged an impressive 10.4 points, 4.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game in Liga ACB, Spain's premier basketball league. 

The guard possesses unbelievable athleticism and terrific speed. He is widely regarded as one of the top dunkers in all of Europe. 

Llull was selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, but the Houston Rockets bought his rights for an astonishing $2.25 million. 

Despite being under contract in Spain until 2014, you can bet that the Rockets will be seeing how one of their top prospects performs on the world's grandest stage. 

Mohamed Hadidane, Tunisia

Mohamed Hadidane plays for one of the weakest nations in this year's tournament, but he is one of the most complete players in the international game. 

Hadidane is a 6'9'' power forward who can do it all on the court. He can shoot jumpers with ease, rebound like a center and pass like a star point guard. 

The 26-year-old has struggled on the international stage before, as he shot only 22 percent from the field in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. 

NBA scouts will be intrigued with Hadidane's performance in this year's Olympics.

If he can put together a strong tournament, he could get a few looks from teams across the league. 

Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania

Perhaps no other international player in this year's tournament comes with more hype than Jonas Valanciunas.

The Lithuanian native was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors, and he will join the team for the 2012 season.

Valanciunas has been the face of European basketball for the last three years. He has claimed numerous accolades, including the 2011 Lithuanian Player of the Year, the 2011 FIBA European Player of the Year and the 2010 Eurocup Rising Star.

The 20-year-old has also been extremely impressive in international competition, as he averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game in Olympic qualifying. 

Valanciunas has done all that has been asked of him so far. Can he perform well on the Olympic stage with the world (and Raptors scouts) watching?

Nando De Colo, France

Nando de Colo is finally heading to San Antonio to join the Spurs for the 2012 NBA season, three years after the team selected him in the second round of the NBA draft. 

De Colo will be a critical component of France's success in this year's Olympics, and his performance will be held under a microscope. 

The 25-year-old was arguably the best player in France over the last few seasons, as he claimed the 2007 French League All-Star Game MVP, the 2008 French League Most Improved Player and the 2007 French League Most Valuable Player. 

The talented guard can score with ease, while also being able to handle the ball well and rebound consistently.

A solid showing in London could skyrocket him up prospect lists heading into the NBA season.  

Victor Claver, Spain

Victor Claver is another prized European prospect set to join the NBA for the 2012 season. The Spanish forward signed a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this month.

Claver has been one of Spain's best players in recent years, as he claimed the 2010 Eurocup Rising Star and averaged a solid 9.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in Eurocup this season.

Claver is both a sharpshooter and solid ball-handler. The 23-year-old excels in the half-court game, which is heavily used in the NBA.

Claver's performance in the Olympics will be heavily critiqued by the Trail Blazers' front office as they look to find him a role within the organization.

Pablo Prigioni, Argentina

Pablo Prigioni has been a staple in Argentina's international lineup since 2006, and he led them to a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and gold medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship. 

The 35-year-old has played in a variety of competitions over his 17-year club career, and he has been successful at every stop. 

Prigioni claimed the 2006 Spanish Cup MVP and the 2008 Spanish Supercup while playing for Saski Baskonia. 

The 6'3'' point guard is a terrific all-around player, as he averaged a phenomenal line of 7.3 points, 4.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 28.7 minutes per game in EuroBasket this past season.

Despite his age, the New York Knicks offered the Argentinian star a one-year contract earlier this offseason.

You can bet the Knicks will be watching how their investment performs against premier teams in London.   

Augusto Lima, Brazil

Augusto Lima may be the most scouted big man in the entire Olympic tournament. 

The 6'10'' Brazilian power forward has unbelievable potential, and many scouts believe he could be a consistent double-double threat at the NBA level. 

The 20-year-old averaged a solid 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in just 10.9 minutes per game in EuroBasket last season. 

Many experts see Lima begin taken in next year's NBA Draft. Draftexpress projects him as an early second-round pick.

Lima's stock could either drastically rise or fall this summer, depending on how he performs in London.