Dark Horse Rookies Who Could Win NBA Rookie of the Year Award

The 2012 NBA offseason is rapidly approaching its close and franchises have begun to finalize their rosters. Due to this fact, players have begun to carve out their pre-training camp roles and establish themselves as legitimate rotational options.

Many rookies will have the opportunity to steal rotational spots from aging veterans.

Which rookies are ready to rise up and contribute right away? Furthermore, which players will emerge as the best of the youth?

While we could pick out the top-10 draft choices and rank them by favorites, it's much more enticing to predict the unpredictable. For instance, which under-the-radar rookies could compete for and win the Rookie of the Year award?

For the answer to that question, click away and gaze at some of the young players you may not know but should.

Jared Cunningham, Dallas Mavericks

Position: Guard

Age: 21

Draft Position: First Round, Pick 24 (via Cavaliers)

One of the most underrated selections of the 2012 NBA draft is guard Jared Cunningham out of Oregon State. He's a slasher with a solid jump shot and is as disruptive in the passing lanes as any player you'll find.

Due to his active and efficient defense, he's an instantly valuable weapon for the Dallas Mavericks. Throw in the fact that he has 20-points-per-game potential and you have yourself a future All-Star.

And that's before we get to why Cunningham is so enticing.

Cunningham has been described by scouts as a Dwyane Wade type of player. He's also been compared to Russell Westbrook because he's a magnificent ball handler with brilliant court vision.

Considering Wade averaged more than 6.5 assists per game in each season from 2005 to 2010, that's a nice comparison to have for a player looking to carve out a role as a point guard. It's also a nice comparison for a player looking to win Rookie of the Year.

As for where the opportunity will come, Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo may be popular, but they're also incredibly inconsistent. This opens the door for at least one of the two to suffer from a cold streak at one point in the season, thus enabling Jared Cunningham to see extended playing time.

Besides, if it's not Cunningham, it's Vince Carter. The former Oregon State Beaver will see the floor and contribute in a major way.

John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks

Position: Power Forward

Age: 21

Draft Position: First Round, Pick 14

John Henson is entering a situation in which the starting center for the Milwaukee Bucks is Samuel Dalembert. Okay, so you know why he'll see playing time.

Dalembert is an excellent rebounder and can be a dominant shot-blocker. Coincidentally, those are the two of the strongest traits that define rookie John Henson. Henson, however, also has a strong grasp for the fundamentals and is capable of running the floor in transition with Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

Henson is also 21 while Dalembert is 31. Henson will see the court no matter whose minutes have to be cut.

Henson is one of the rare players who can dominate a game without touching the ball on offense. He's an unbelievable athlete with outstanding shot-blocking abilities. He's also controlling on the glass and has quick enough hands to make a difference in the post.

While Henson may not be the most well-built player, he should see the floor on a consistent basis with his refined finesse style. This will open the door for double-digit rebounding and big shot-blocking numbers—two major factors in the race for Rookie of the Year.

John Jenkins, Atlanta Hawks

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 21

Draft Position: First Round, Pick 23

John Jenkins enters a unique situation in Atlanta. While he's not guaranteed the starting spot, he may be the best shooting guard the team has after trading Joe Johnson. This offers Jenkins the opportunity to receive instant exposure as he plays alongside stars Al Horford and Josh Smith.

National television time is likely to come and Jenkins' sharpshooting is almost certain to translate. Throw in his natural leadership abilities and a knack for hitting the big shot and Jenkins will emerge as a legitimate contender for the Rookie of the Year.

The hurdle for Jenkins will be finding an offensive game beyond his jump shooting.

If the Vanderbilt alum can learn from Lou Williams and take his future opponents off of the dribble, Jenkins could be a threat for upwards of 15 points per game. If he relies too heavily on his ability to shoot, however, he could suffer from the label of a one-dimensional player, a label that very few players every recover from—a label that John Jenkins will avoid.

Jeremy Lamb, Houston Rockets

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Draft Position: First Round, Pick 12

The Houston Rockets' current starting shooting guard is an outstanding talent with two things going against him. For one, Kevin Martin is an absolutely horrendous perimeter defender. He's more likely to allow a player to blow by him three times consecutively than he is to stay in front of him once.

Secondly, Kevin Martin doesn't want to be a member of the Houston Rockets long term. Martin wants a change of scenery.

Rookie Jeremy Lamb now finds himself in a promising situation. He's a very athletic, very long 2-guard who could certainly replace Martin in the case of a trade. He's an exceptional jump shooter from mid-range and has range out to the three-point line.

More importantly, Lamb doesn't need Kevin Martin to be moved to take his job.

Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale values defense and length. Jeremy Lamb just so happens to be top tier in both of those categories as his 7' wingspan is well-beyond the average for 2-guards. 

Kevin Martin may be traded after all. If not, he'll be benched in favor of one of the most physically gifted players in this draft class.

Andrew Nicholson, Orlando Magic

Position: Power Forward

Age: 22

Draft Position: First Round, Pick 19

Many have begun to assume that Andrew Nicholson will instantly receive substantial playing time now that Ryan Anderson has gone to the New Orleans Hornets. While that is not as much of a guarantee as one might think, Nicholson will find some playing time early and thrive enough to see a nightly raise in opportunities, similar to route of Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried.

Andrew Nicholson is an exceptional low-post scorer with an infectious motor. He'll do everything from boxing an opponent out for the fundamental rebound to diving on the floor for a loose ball. Consider him Joakim Noah with a more sound base of fundamentals.

As a rookie, we can expect Nicholson to average double-digit points and roughly seven rebounds per game. With that being said, the St. Bonaventure graduate could top those digits as he's currently in line to play alongside Dwight Howard.

Ryan Anderson can tell him what that can do for a player.

Should Andrew Nicholson overcome the tough challenge of taking the starter's role from Glen Davis, he'll instantly emerge as a favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. His scoring and rebounding prowess, as well as his respected motor, could end this battle sooner than we'd expect.

Keep an eye on the former Bonnie.

Pablo Prigioni, New York Knicks

Position: Point Guard

Age: 35

Draft Position: N/A

What advantage does Pablo Prigioni hold over every single rookie coming into the league? He has spent years playing with and against the NBA's elite in international play.

When matched up against those players, Prigioni has consistently displayed the qualities of an elite point guard. Don't expect that to change once he becomes a member of the talent-ridden New York Knicks.

Prigioni is entering a situation in which both Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton are coming off the worst seasons of their respective careers. Kidd is unlikely to improve on last season as his age is his greatest hindrance.

For Prigioni, age is nothing but a number. He's quicker than the average point guard who is 10 years his younger. He's also an excellent decision maker whose passing ability is as solid as any. He can thread the needle and attack the basket at will due to his masterful ball-handling.

His pick-and-roll and drive-and-dish abilities are equally as significant. The oldest rookie in NBA history will be playing big minutes in no time and have a Ricky Rubio type season.