2012 NBA Draft: Top Prospects for Next Year's Stacked Draft Class

Hopefully, next year's NBA Draft class won't have to worry about being dropped into the same mess this years' class is.  It would be a shame, because this class is looking like it could be really good.  

Short of having a premier center prospect near the top of most draft boards, every other position is pretty well represented.  Keep the following guys' names in mind for the upcoming college basketball season, as well as one prospect, as yet committed, who could be the best of the bunch.

Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers is the son of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers.  He is headed to Duke this year and is perhaps the best pure scorer who could be available in the 2012 NBA Draft.

He has plenty of off-the-dribble moves and pretty good explosiveness at the basket. He has the strength and agility to finish at the basket with contact.

He has good range on the jump shot; he can make it off the dribble or from a spot up situation.  Duke is a great spot, as he needs to refine his fundamentals and concepts of team basketball to match his great natural basketball instincts.

Combining his natural talent with a year of coaching from Mike Krzyzewski will make him an attractive prospect come June 2012.  

Jeremy Lamb

A silky-smooth two-guard, going into his sophomore year at Connecticut, Lamb is gifted with a nice pull-up jump shot and spot-up three game.  

He has extremely long arms, he plays the passing lanes well and shows great potential as a defender.

He is rising quickly on draft boards because he is gaining a reputation as a two-way player as well as a clutch performer.  Lamb made several big shots in Connecticut's national championship run this past year.

Andre Drummond

Drummond reminds me of a right-handed, more explosive version of Derrick Coleman.

He is the last of the top prep players to commit.  He has narrowed his choices down to five schools.  Of course, Kentucky is one of them and usually when John Calipari gets his sights set on a kid, he gets him. 

Drummond may not attend college at all.  He has agreed to do a post-graduate year at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts.  He will still be eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft, as he would have already completed the one year removed from high school requirement, but could opt to do a year in college.  

He plays with tremendous confidence and bounce, but his comfort level off the dribble is what puts me in the mind of DC.  He is physically so strong, he is already built like a NBA power forward.  

Having seen him play live, I can tell you, he is the real deal.  He does need to be a more interested defender beyond blocking shots, as active big men can outwork him at times.  

Still, there is little doubt in my mind, barring some freak occurrence, he'll be the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

Anthony Davis

The Chicago kid with the amazing seven-inch growth sport. Now 6'10", he is a good athlete, plus very unselfish with a 7'4" wing span. This makes him a shot-blocking threat immediately.

Davis is not just big, he is incredibly agile with the same perimeter skills he developed before his growth spurt.  The Kevin Durant comparisons are understandable, but he is very thin.  

Hopefully, he can add some bulk, but his ceiling may be the highest of any of the prospects. 

Josiah Turner

He is a super-quick PG with great size and leaping ability for the position. At 6'4", he can score and create, but he may be more of a natural scorer than creator.

Either way, he is explosively quick off the dribble.

His jumper is a bit streaky, but he can still score in bunches and has good vision. If he works on being a natural PG, he will be something special.

Turner is headed to Arizona to continue the Wildcats' impressive line of successful point guards. 

James McAdoo

He is the nephew of NBA great Bob McAdoo, and he is headed to Chapel Hill this year.

I believe McAdoo can play the three or four position in the NBA. His length and athleticism will allow him to defend any SF in the league.  

He would be an undersized power forward, but, his arm length could help him remain effective.  Still, I think he would be much more effective as an athletic three with a post game, than an undersized four with long arms.

Either way, expect to hear his name called in the top eight in June 2012.  The Tar Heels are pretty stacked this year.

Jared Sullinger

Sullinger's game screams Carlos Boozer.  He is a bruising classic power forward, but he is thick-legged and not explosive. He is prone to getting his shot blocked, like Boozer.  

Sullinger could put up big numbers but will always struggle against long athletic types.

His desire is appealing, but he may have a hard time overcoming his physical limitations to become an elite player on the next level.

Harrison Barnes

My preseason favorite for college player of the year.  Barnes is a more athletic Luol Deng.  He has great intangibles and a great feel for the game.  

Barnes could be a really good defender, as he is fundamentally solid with a beautiful stroke on the three ball.  

Though some others with more potential may beat him out as the No. 1 pick overall, Barnes could have the best rookie season.