NBA Draft 2013: Unheralded Prospects Who Will Produce at Next Level

This year's NBA draft is certainly shaping up to be an interesting one, as any number of players could be taken first overall. Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo are names that have been mentioned, but there is still a lot of mystery involved. Perhaps even more intriguing than the top players, though, are the dark-horse selections.

A small group of players inevitably steal the headlines before every draft, and there is only so much publicity to go around. That leaves late-first-round and early second-round talents to fend for themselves. Even though they may not be talked about as much as their counterparts, many such prospects have a chance to be excellent NBA players.

Here are three unheralded prospects in the 2013 draft class who will outperform their draft positions and make an impact at the next level.

Jamaal Franklin

At 6'5" and 191 pounds, Jamaal Franklin has a different body type that makes it difficult to determine what position he will play in the NBA. His height suggests that he can be a small forward, but 191 pounds may be a bit slight for that spot. Whatever the case, he has a versatile skill set that could make him a matchup nightmare for his opponents at the next level.

Franklin will likely be taken late in the first round, which means there is a good chance that he'll land on a strong team.

He may not be asked to do much initially, but developing for a while could be great for him in the long run. Franklin has been making the rounds and working out for teams as of late. He was particularly strong while working out for the New York Knicks, according to Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld:

Whether or not that showing improves his draft stock is anyone's guess, but he is definitely showing that he possesses a great all-around game. Franklin averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game at San Diego State last season, so he is a stat stuffer who can do a little bit of everything.

He's also extremely athletic, so he can be a great perimeter defender at the very least. Whichever teams selects him is bound to be happy.

Mike Muscala

The Patriot League generally doesn't produce many NBA players, but Bucknell big man Mike Muscala has a chance to buck that trend. The reigning Patriot League Player of the Year didn't receive a lot of hype during the season, but he was excellent and produced against all levels of competition.

Every NBA team is looking for quality power forward and center types, so there figures to be a market for Muscala.

In terms of production, Muscala is as good as they come in this draft. He averaged nearly 19 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Bison while shooting over 50 percent from the field. Muscala also shot well over 80 percent from the free-throw line while at Bucknell, so his offensive game is complete. He doesn't receive much credit for his athleticism, but Jeff Goodman of ESPN believes that Muscala boosted his stock at the combine:

Even after that boost, it is highly unlikely that Muscala will be taken in the first round, though. While that will adversely affect his bank account, being taken in the second round means that expectations will be low and he will be allowed to grow into the pro game. As a big man who can shoot mid-range jumpers and rebound effectively, there will always be a place for him in the NBA, and that should lead him to a successful career.

Pierre Jackson

Baylor's Pierre Jackson was among the most productive point guards in the nation last year, as he averaged nearly 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game. He has been a virtual afterthought thus far, however, and it's difficult to explain why. Not only was he productive, but he is extremely fast and athletic as well, so conventional wisdom states that teams with a need at point guard should be all over him.

The only negative attached to Jackson is his size. Point guards don't necessarily have to be big in order to succeed in the NBA, but Jackson is definitely diminutive at 5'10" and 180 pounds. That should allow him to be quicker than his opposition, but it will also allow opposing guards to get physical with him and perhaps throw him off his game.

Seth Davis of CBS Sports was particularly surprised by his height while he was standing next to fellow class of 2013 point guards:

At 5'9", Nate Robinson provided some of the most memorable moments of the NBA playoffs this year. Anyone who has watched Robinson knows that he has to be much shorter than 5'9" in actuality, and Jackson certainly isn't shorter than Robinson.

The overarching point is that short players can thrive in the NBA as long as they use their talent effectively. Jackson has all the talent in the world and stands to be a huge second-round steal.

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