NBA Draft 2011: Top 10 Candidates for the 2011-2012 Rookie of the Year Award

With the 2011 NBA Draft just 17 days away, it's time to start thinking about which college stars will be ready to make an immediate impact in year one.

Although this year's draft is considered by many to be one of the weakest in recent memory, no one really has any idea how good these guys will be at the next level because so much of it is based on the situation they ultimately end up in.

I highly doubt the No. 2 pick of this year's draft will be any less successful than Evan Turner, but at the same time, it's pretty obvious we don't have a player the same caliber of a John Wall either. 

Injuries can often lead to playing time for rookies who happen to be in the right place at the right time, just like a player could be buried on a team's depth chart that happens to be stacked at a certain position.  If you really want to grade an NBA draft (or an NFL draft for that matter), it should be done three years after the fact.

With that in mind, let's take a look at who we can anticipate being legitimate Rookie of the Year candidates in 2011-2012.

10. Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Marshon Brooks #2 of the Providence Friars looks on after a play against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2010 in New York, New York. (Phot

Marshon Brooks (6'5", 195 lbs.) averaged 24.6 points per game last season for Providence, including a 52-point outburst against Notre Dame late in the season.  

Similar to Jordan Crawford of the Wizards, Brooks has good size for an NBA 2-guard with the ability to score in a variety of ways from anywhere on the floor.

If he lands in the right situation next year, Brooks could score enough points to warrant serious consideration for some hardware. 

9. Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Klay Thompson #1 of the Washington State Cougars looks on in the second half against the Washington Huskies in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 10, 2011 i

Klay Thompson (6'7", 206 lbs.) averaged 21.6 points last season for Washington State and is the son of former #1 overall pick, Mychal Thompson (1978).  

Thompson is an incredible outside shooter with NBA ready range that has been skyrocketing up NBA draft boards with impressive displays in the pre-draft camps.

Thompson will make an immediate impact at the next level by providing instant offense for the team fortunate enough to draft him. 

8. Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

TULSA, OK - MARCH 18: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns speaks with Tristan Thompson #13 during the second round game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at BOK Center on March 18, 2011 in Tulsa,

Tristan Thompson (6'9", 227 lbs.) recorded 10 double-doubles as a freshman at Texas while averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The left-handed Thompson possesses tremendous upside with his enormous wingspan and world class athleticism.

Thompson could start from day one next season for one of this year's lottery teams.

7. Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

DENVER, CO - MARCH 19: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars shoot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Pepsi Center on March 19, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmond

Jimmer Fredette (6'2", 196 lbs.) averaged 28.9 points per game last season for BYU, but you already know that.  Everyone wants to compare him to J.J. Redick, but the fact is, he's better.

Would anyone be surprised if this is your 2011-2012 Rookie of the Year Award winner next year?  After watching him play numerous times last season, I know I certainly wouldn't.  

6. Alec Burks, PG/SG, Colorado

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Alec Burks #10 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives with the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks during their semifinal game in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 11, 2011 in Kansas City

Alec Burks (6'6", 193 lbs.) averaged 20.5 points per game last season for Colorado and has been shooting up NBA draft boards across the league.  

Possessing NBA size (although a bit slight) and athleticism with the ability to score the ball from inside and out, Burks is my sleeper pick for rookie of the year.

Keep an eye out for this kid... 

5. Kemba Walker, PG, UConn

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies handles the ball against the Butler Bulldogs during the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on April 4, 2011 in Houston,

Kemba Walker (6'1", 184 lbs.) averaged 23.5 points per game last season for the National Champion UConn Huskies en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.  

Walker comes NBA ready and will in score in bunches next season, just like we watched him to do at the collegiate level.  

4. Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego St.

Harry How/Getty Images

TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 19: Kawhi Leonard #15 of the San Diego State Aztecs drives against the Temple Owls during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at McKale Center on March 19, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Im

Kawhi Leonard (6'7", 227 lbs.) averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Aztecs last season and is quite simply, an absolute freak of nature.

Leonard is a hybrid forward that is comfortable both on the perimeter and around the basket.  Possessing enormous hands and an incredible motor, he will immediately become one of the best rebounders in the NBA next season.

Leonard is a quick jumper with a knack for the ball and a tremendous wingspan...all factors that contribute to a 6'7" small forward averaging 10.5 rebounds for an entire season.  

3. Brandon Knight, PG/SG, Kentucky

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Brandon Knight #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats moves the ball while taking on the Connecticut Huskies during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in

Brandon Knight (6'3", 177 lbs.) nearly led Kentucky to a national title last season as a freshman, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

Knight will be a starting point guard at the next level from day one and has often been compared to Jrue Holiday of the Philadelphia 76ers.

2. Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke

Harry How/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kyrie Irving #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Arizona Wildcats during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by

Kyrie Irving (6'3", 191 lbs.) was just hitting his stride for the Duke Blue Devils last season before a turf toe injury knocked him out for the majority of the year.  Irving only played in 11 games, but it was obvious from the beginning that he was special.

He scored 31 points in his first national televised game against Michigan State, and closed his career by scoring 28 points in Duke's season ending loss to Arizona in the Sweet 16.  

Irving is a "true point guard" who's game is very similar to Chris Paul for two reasons, he is a facilitator who makes others around him better and he is an extremely efficient scorer (53 percent from the field, 46 percent from three, and 90 percent from the line).

Irving will be selected with either the first or second pick of the 2011 Draft. 

1. Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Arizona

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

TULSA, OK - MARCH 18: Derrick Williams #23 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts to a play against the Memphis Tigers during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at BOK Center on March 18, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Penning

Derrick Williams (6'8", 248 lbs.) averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Arizona Wildcats last season and introduced himself to a nation on the grandest of stages, the NCAA Tournament.  

In the last five games of the season, Williams averaged 23 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, leading Arizona to the Elite Eight, before falling to eventual champion, UConn, 65-63.  

Williams shot a ridiculous .595 from the field and an even more ridiculous .568 from three point land.  He's such an elite athlete that NBA scouts can't even determine if he's a small forward or a power forward because he does everything so well.

The thing about Derrick Williams is he doesn't need a position because he is a basketball player, plain and simple.  And in my opinion, Williams is also your 2011-2012 NBA Rookie of the Year.