Terrence Jones and 13 Players Who Will Be First-Round NBA Draft Picks

Terrence Jones of the Kentucky Wildcats is guaranteed to be a first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, as will the rest of these players.

Being a first rounder in the NBA Draft is an honor. It requires a lot of talent, and even more dedication. These are the best basketball players in the world.

What is more impressive than be taken in the first round is being taken as a lottery pick. These 13 players are guaranteed to be taken in the first round, and they should be lottery picks.

With that, here are the 13 players who will be taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Marquis Teague is a freshman point guard who is going to be playing for the Kentucky Wildcats. Teague is the No. 1 point guard in the 2011 recruiting class, and he is the No. 7 overall recruit.

Teague is a very good point guard because of his excellent court vision and ability to create for teammates. He can cut through defenses and into the lane, where he finishes well. Teague can finish through contact, and he gets to the free-throw line very often.

Teague is also a very quick player, and he is almost impossible to stop when he goes to the left. Teague's quickness does not help him much against zone defenses because whenever he beats someone, there is another player waiting. He may struggle a bit in college because he will face so many zones, but he will flourish in the NBA.

Although Teague is not completely ready to lead a team, he has become a much better leader over the past year, and he will continue to improve under coach John Calipari.

Teague will also be a good defender in the NBA because of his lateral quickness, allowing him to stay in front of defenders. Teague reminds some people of John Wall because of his quickness and point guard skills.

Quincy Miller, Baylor

Quincy Miller is a freshman power forward for the Baylor Bears. He is the No. 6 recruit in the 2011 class, and he is No. 3 among power forwards.

Miller is a matchup nightmare for any team. He is a 6'10" wing player who can score inside or out. He can play with his back to the basket, or face-up and drive. He can also knock down threes with ease, although he does need to take his shot a little sooner at the next level.

Miller has a high basketball IQ, and can become a great playmaker off the dribble. He knows when and where to drive, and when he needs to pass to a teammate.

If Miller can quicken his shot then he is going to be an even better player, which is saying something because he is already considered an elite player who will surely be a one-and-done. Miller is going to be watched by a lot of NBA teams this season, and he is bound to be selected in the first round.

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller is a forward/center for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Zeller is a 7'0" monster for the Tar Heels, and he is one of their talented big men.

Zeller has developed into a great player in his time with the Tar Heels, and he decided to come back to school for his senior season. Zeller could have been taken in the 2011 NBA Draft, but now that he has another year to develop, he will be a first rounder for sure.

Zeller came to UNC and posted only 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game. Zeller then played 17.4 minutes per game in his sophomore year and improved his numbers to 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. Last season, as a junior, Zeller averaged 15.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in only 28.1 minutes per game.

Zeller has refined his game and has become an elite big man, and we are going to see him improve once more for his senior season. Zeller has improved to the point that he could be the second best player on a team loaded with NBA talent.

Zeller is going to be a first rounder, and he should be a lottery pick.

Michael Gilchrist, Kentucky

Michael Gilchrist is a freshman small forward for the Kentucky Wildcats. Gilchrist is the best small forward in the 2011 recruiting class. He is the No. 3 overall player, but is still considered the best in the class by some.

Gilchrist has an incredible combination of athleticism and determination. He can lead a team in points, rebounds and even blocks with his 6'7" stature helping him reject shots from guards.

Gilchrist puts up big scoring numbers, but he wants to be more than a scorer. He also rebounds incredibly well and gives 100 percent on defense.

Gilchrist works hard to be a tough, fierce player who can lead a team. He needs to work on his shooting a bit more, but is going to develop into a superstar under John Calipari.

Bradley Beal, Florida

Bradley Beal is a shooting guard who will be playing for the Florida Gators this season. Beal is the No. 4 overall player in the 2011 recruiting class, and the No. 2 shooting guard.

Beal looks like a younger Ray Allen to most people. He has a sweet shot and is a great complementary player.

Beal can put up big numbers because of his consistent shot and ability to move without the ball. Beal can take over a game when necessary, but it is better to have a superstar on your team that you can also rely on.

Beal has incredible range, and he can already knock down NBA-range threes. He makes a defense stretch out to worry about him, which makes things easier for his teammates.

Beal is an NBA-ready player. He won't become a superstar like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade, but he should develop into a good shooter and overall player like Allen or Reggie Miller.

Perry Jones, Baylor

Perry Jones is a sophomore forward/center for the Baylor Bears. Jones could have gone to the NBA in the 2011 NBA Draft, but decided to come back to school and refine his game.

Jones has a lot of talent and skill, and he is NBA-ready, but he had some question marks on his resume coming into college.

Jones was not productive enough and got into foul trouble in high school, but he generally fixed those problems in college.

Jones did not foul nearly as much, and as a result he was able to play 33.9 minutes per game instead of sitting on the bench due to early fouls. Jones did average 2.4 fouls per game, but he was never in too much trouble, and getting an extra foul in the NBA will help him even more.

Jones averaged 13.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. He learned how to demand the ball more, and his speed and quickness helped him run the floor and defend even shooting guards with his lateral quickness.

Jones has become a much better player, and he is going to be a first rounder in the 2012 NBA Draft for sure.

John Henson, North Carolina

John Henson is another one of the North Carolina Tar Heels' talented big men. Henson is going to be a junior forward for the loaded Tar Heels, and he is going to draw attention from NBA scouts.

Henson was the No. 6 recruit in the 2009 recruiting class, and he was supposed to be out of college and in the NBA already.

Henson is a 6'10" small forward. He can lead a team on a fast break and make good passing decisions. It's a scary thought to have a 6'10" player who can pass like a guard, but Henson can do so.

Henson can drive either way, he can shoot well, and he can play with his back to the basket. He can also elevate nicely, being both a good rebounder and shot-blocker.

Henson averaged a double-double last season, averaging 11.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.

Henson is ready to take on the next level, and another year under Roy Williams is bound to help him refine his game.

James McAdoo, North Carolina

James McAdoo is a freshman for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and he is their third forward on this list. McAdoo is the No. 2 power forward in the class, and the No. 5 player overall.

McAdoo is small for a power forward at 6'8", and he will have to transition to small forward at the next level. He seems to realize this because he has worked on his face-up game and is becoming a combo-forward.

McAdoo has great hands which help him rebound well and score inside with his back to the basket. He has the skill to be a power forward, and he is rapidly improving on his game away from the basket.

McAdoo is still a work in progress, and therefore needs this year in college before going pro, but it will be nice to see him play small forward with John Henson and Tyler Zeller playing power forward and center respectively.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Anthony Davis is a 6'10" power forward who will be playing for the Kentucky Wildcats this season. Davis is the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2011 class, and could be in the NBA right now if he didn't have to go to college.

Davis has great hands, excellent timing, an incredible wingspan and improved ball-handling skills.

His timing and wingspan have helped him become an elite shot-blocker, while his great hands help him score inside and become a great rebounder. Davis is working on his face-up game, but he has learned to go left or right.

The down side to Davis is that he is not big enough. He grew seven inches in one year, and he still needs to add some weight if he wants to bang inside with NBA forwards and centers.

Davis is going to become a monster in college, and he already has the attention of NBA scouts.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger should have been a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, but decided to come back to school for some reason or another.

Sullinger averaged a double-double in his freshman season, putting up 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He can dominate inside the paint, and the 6'9" power forward is very strong at 280 pounds.

Sullinger was one of, if not the best rebounder in the country last season, and improved his game with his left hand. He is an all-around good player, and is going to be one of the earliest picks in the 2012 NBA Draft if he comes out.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes is a 6'8" small forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Barnes is going to be a sophomore this season, after deciding to return to school despite being labeled as an NBA lottery pick.

Barnes is an athletic small forward who can play inside or out. He can play some power forward in college, but will transition to a full-time small forward in the NBA. He has a good mid-range game and can consistently hit jumpers.

Barnes is a very smooth player who can dominate a game without forcing anything. Barnes drives incredibly well, slashing through the lanes and finishing with dunks or runners.

If Barnes can improve his range he is going to become the complete player. He already has good range, but if he can knock down NBA threes and stretch the defense, he will be unstoppable.

Austin Rivers, Duke

Austin Rivers is going to be a freshman shooting guard for the Duke Blue Devils this season. Rivers is the No. 1 shooting guard in the 2011 recruiting class, and the No. 2 player overall.

Rivers is going to lead the Blue Devils this season, and the leader of Duke is always a first-round draft pick.

Rivers is a cold-blooded assassin who can nail game-winning shots with apparent ease. He knows how to lead a team because he is not only a good shooter with range out to 30 feet, but he can also play point guard because of his excellent court vision and passing abilities.

Rivers can drive through the lane easily because his range makes defenses extend out, making them vulnerable inside.

Rivers is one of the smartest basketball players in the class, and he is going to be a great player both in college and in the NBA.

Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Terrence Jones is a sophomore small forward for the Kentucky Wildcats. Jones is 6'9" and could have been taken in the 2011 NBA Draft, but elected to come back to school to improve his game.

Jones' size makes him very valuable because he rebound like a power forward. Jones elevated to grab 8.8 rebounds and block 1.9 shots per game last season, numbers which are good for power forwards, let alone small forwards.

Jones is a very athletic player who can steal the ball and get him self a fast-break. He knows how to attack the basket, driving through the lane and finishing. Jones averaged 15.7 points because of his ability to drive, but he can also consistently knock down jumpers.

Jones can be a great player, and one more year under John Calipari will turn him into a lottery pick, let alone a first rounder.