2012 NBA Mock Draft: Big Board for the 1st Round

The 2012 NBA draft class is going to be jam-packed with a boatload of talented prospects.

Unlike 2011, teams making selections shouldn't express any sort of hesitancy in the first round, as there should be at least one intriguing option on the board for every team selecting in the inaugural 30 picks.

Although it's probable that there will be some solid debate for who should occupy the premier spots at the top, we will have to see how these players perform throughout the season to gauge an accurate assessment of these early rankings.

No. 30: PG Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Wayns has a lot of potential at the point position, but he'll really need to learn how to cut down on his turnovers if he's going to find success in the NBA.

Additionally, Wayns has some work to do at the defensive end of the floor, but his size should allow him to body up against the opposition that he'll be facing.

No. 29: SG William Buford, Ohio State

Buford's athleticism gives him the nod inside the top 30 on my preliminary big board, as there's a lot that he can do with his 6'5" frame that others simply can't.

If he's going to find success at the next level, he'll need to add some considerable bulk to his frame (less than 200 lbs right now) and learn how to create offensive opportunities for himself with the ball in his hands.

No. 28: C Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson comes in the cut of a prototypical NBA power forward at 6'9" and about 240 lbs, but that doesn't make him a slam dunk to find success on those credentials alone.

The knock on Robinson is he isn't exactly a "high-IQ" guy on the hardwood, meaning that he relies more on his innate abilities than tactical knowledge of the game at this point.

Fortunately for Robinson, there's still time to develop that aspect of his attack.

No. 27: PF/C Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Zeller's impressive height is something that's almost sure to intrigue teams looking for help underneath the rim, but it's a major question mark as to just how much help he could provide to a club looking for production sooner rather than later.

He's not a great offensive contributor by any stretch, and he's going to need to add significant strength to a lengthy frame if he's going to be able to defend the opposition in the NBA.

No. 26: SG Chris Johnson, Dayton

Although Johnson actually took a step back statistically for Dayton last season, I don't expect that slight down slide to be a continuing trend.

He's been given a bigger role with the team every season he's been in the fold, and his senior season should present some of the most promising returns on his natural talent that we've seen to date.

No. 25: PG Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

When his perimeter game is on, Hardaway's outside attack keeps consistent with his last name and it's really a fun thing to watch him light it up from the outside.

As a point guard, he is extremely raw. He's not a great athlete, nor does he have ideal size. He'll need to improve the consistency in his game if he wants to take it to the next level, but both are well within his reach.

No. 24: PF Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

After sitting out back-to-back seasons and transferring from Marquette, Mbakwe is looking to make a stamp on talent evaluators with a breakout season.

He averaged a double-double (13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds) for Minnesota last season, and if he can improve even further as a player in the coming season, he'll likely cement his role as a solid power forward prospect in the league.

No. 23: PG Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

Marshall didn't have an enormous role in his first season with the Tar Heels, but he certainly seems destined for a better go-around in North Carolina during his sophomore season.

A player that "gets it", Marshall's basketball IQ is arguably the best facet of his game and he'll need to work on translating those smarts into production on the court if he wants to see his draft stock climb.

No. 22: SF/PF C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

Leslie came to North Carolina with sky-high expectations placed upon him, but he didn't exactly do anything earth-shattering in his freshman season.

He's been blessed with insane athleticism, but he doesn't play with the motor that many of his (less talented) peers do and that's got to be a major concern for any team looking for energy in the second unit.

No. 21: PF Terrence Jennings, Louisville

Jennings has proven himself underneath the basket and has a definite ability to contribute as a cleanup guy on the glass, but he's got the potential to be much more than that.

His offensive game can extend to one that encompasses a mid-range shot, and his greatest challenge will be keeping up with defenders that are quicker than he is when they attempt to blow past him.

No. 20: SF Kris Joseph, Syracuse

After Joseph saw some of his talented teammates depart from the squad, he stepped up into a more prominent role with the team and embraced it in a big way.

His overall game is solid if unspectacular, and he seems poised to take another step forward for a team that's going to give him plenty of opportunities to produce.

No. 19: SG Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Lamb is a guy that loves to have the ball in his hands, and while he does some impressive things with the rock, he needs to learn how to work without it as well.

He came really highly touted out of high school, and although he's yet to match that hype, Lamb could really explode out of nowhere and legitimize himself as an unbridled scorer.

No. 18: PG Josiah Turner, Arizona

The Sean Miller recruitment tour was on full display throughout the summer, and landing Josiah Turner is a serious accomplishment.

Turner's skill set is among the most intriguing of any player on this list, and he could very well catapult his stock a lot higher if he comes out of the gates and plays the way that some are expecting.

No. 17: SG Terrence Ross, Washington

There's a lot to like about Ross' offensive approach, and his attack from the perimeter can be downright deadly if he's given an open look.

He's got major athleticism that leads to explosiveness on the court, but his handles will have to improve if he's going to shake a defender at the highest level of competition.

No. 16: SF Khris Middleton, Texas A&M

He might be a little lanky at first glance, but Middleton possesses surprising strength for a player that makes much of his living on the perimeter.

Middleton turns the ball over way too much, and that's something that he's really going to need to work on so smaller guards can't come pester him around the three-point line.

No. 15: SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

There is a ton to love about Kidd-Gilchrist's game both on and off the court, as he's drawn rave reviews for his work ethic and character throughout his brief career.

Although he's been prolific on the court, his game resembles one that belongs more to a power forward than a small forward and he simply doesn't have the size to play that style at the NBA level.

No. 14: PF John Henson, North Carolina

Henson's wingspan is absolutely off the charts at an astounding 7'6", a full eight inches larger than his listed height.

He's got a huge vertical leap, and combined with his natural length, that leads to a lot of blocked shots around the rim.

Henson really needs to add strength more than any other prospect on this list in order to fully blossom into his ceiling that aims for the stars, and he could quickly ascend toward the top here if he hits on all cylinders this season.

No. 13: PG Myck Kabongo, Texas

Kabongo's calling card is his ability to find offensive opportunities for his teammates, and that's something that will almost certainly appeal to any team looking to facilitate the flow of the attack.

He's fun to watch as a true point guard, but his game is really lacking at the defensive end where he likes to gamble far too often, resulting in several opportunities for his opponent to be left uncovered.

No. 12: SG Brad Beal, Florida

Brad Beal is looking to the ceiling in this photo, and it's possible that he's staring straight up toward his destiny atop the shooting guard rankings for the 2012 draft class.

Similarly to Von Wafer, Beal would rather take any jump shot he can find rather than attack the rim, but unlike Wafer, Beal's jumper is smooth, effortless and has terrific form.

He's not an overwhelming athlete, but with his game, he doesn't have to be in order to be successful.

No. 11: SF/PF Terrence Jones, Kentucky

A player who has the capability to take over the game at any moment, Jones may be the most intriguing prospect of any player listed here for NBA scouts.

He brings a strong desire to win to the court, and that type of intensity is not something that is readily located in prospects like Jones who are so physically gifted.

If he further develops his overall attack, Jones could really be a hot name come next summer.

No. 10: SG Austin Rivers, Duke

One of the most well-talked prospects to this point, Rivers should make waves in his first season at Duke after his standout play led the Blue Devils to recruit him fairly aggressively.

He's got the ability to play either guard position (though I think he'll be better off-ball at the pro level), but he needs to learn how to have success without constantly holding onto the ball.

No. 9: PG Marquis Teague, Kentucky

An impressive athlete who has surprising strength, Teague has the potential to be much, much better than his older brother Jeff.

He has shown that he can be overwhelmed if the defense tries to contain him with a particular approach, and he's really going to have to be more definitive with his running of the offense if a team is going to trust him as a point guard of the future.

No. 8: SF Quincy Miller, Baylor

If we were using potential as a sole measuring stick for the purposes of this list, Miller would be a top-three prospect in the blink of an eye.

As an incoming freshman to Baylor, he'll be expected to contribute in a big way, but he's going to have to develop some serious strength in an effort to contend with some larger defenders.

If he does that, the sky is the limit.

No. 7: SF/PF Perry Jones, Baylor

With upside and athleticism that are both off of the charts, Jones needs to put it all together if he's ever going to use his natural talents to a competitive advantage.

Some controversy really clouded his name toward the end of last season, and he's going to have extra motivation to impress a lot of people as a result.

He's not as "natural" of a baller as some others on this list, but he's got the potential to really be something special.

No. 6: PF Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

A lot of people thought that Sullinger was a definite to declare for the draft last season, but he surprised many by deciding to return to Ohio State.

He made the right choice since there are definitely areas where he can improve his game, especially at the defensive end where he struggles to keep up with quicker opponents.

No. 5: SG Jeremy Lamb, UConn

Lamb made some waves over the summer when he dropped 58 in a Hartford Pro-Am against current NBA player Gary Forbes, but his stock was rising long before that.

Yet another player that needs to add significant bulk to his frame if he's going to survive on the perimeter in the NBA, Lamb's natural ability to put the ball in the hole as well as his insane wingspan (7'1") should help to overcome that problem for the time being.

No. 4: SF Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes was pegged as the country's top prospect prior to his first season with the Tar Heels, but a slow start really hindered that perception at the onset of the collegiate season.

However, Barnes really started to come into his own toward the end of the campaign, and I expect to see a lot more of that moving forward in 2011-12.

He's just too talented.

No. 3: PF Anthony Davis, Kentucky

At 6'10", Davis has superior ball-handling abilities when compared to similar players of his size.

He has unbridled upside, as his 7'4" wingspan combined with his ability to find plays for his teammates on the court are two elements that most don't see combined in the same player very often.

Assuming he stays healthy, Davis is a lock to be a top draft selection in the 2012 class, and it's possible his name is in the mix for the top spot by the time the season concludes.

No. 2: SF/PF James McAdoo, North Carolina

An incoming freshman born in 1993, McAdoo has the looks of an old-school power forward despite barely being of legal age.

A huge frame with a big wingspan, McAdoo's body is already more NBA-ready than most of the counterparts that join him on this list.

He's got incredible natural ability, and it's going to be extraordinary to see what he can accomplish with another year of development underneath his belt.

No. 1: PF/C Andre Drummond, UConn

This kid could score 15-20 points per game in the NBA right now without much of an argument from defenders trying to stop him.

Drummond just turned 18 less than one month ago, and it's possible that he's still got some growing left to do despite standing an impressive 6'10" and already over 250 lbs.

It's going to be interesting to see what he's able to do considering that so many eyes are going to be constantly fixated on him throughout the season, but if he comes in and dominates like so many expect him to do from the onset, there is no other logical candidate for the top selection next June.