* 2012 NBA Draft Prospects *

[Wanderlai]

Who has the ability to be a star and draw fans out of the possible selections?

Davis will be a great defensive guy but his offense is bleak plus he is on the slim side ie not Dwight Howard.

Barnes can develop into a force but he hasn't really progressed in his 2nd season at UNC. Still can't dribble and is streaky with his shot but at times you can see what he could become.

MKG has the drive to be very good and a really nice skillset.

Sullinger reminds me of Carlos Boozer. Solid player not a star.

Drummond has the size but I've heard zip about him this season.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Don't follow the NBA much anymore. But isn't it just our luck that the year we more than likely get the #1 pick is the year there is no slam dunk superstar in the Draft?

[C-A-T-S]

Harrison Barnes will enter the NBA draft if North Carolina wins the national championship.

"The goal is to win a national championship, so, if you do that, it’s a no-brainer," Barnes said. "Our goal is just to win the national championship. I feel like this team, if we continue to mature, we have a great shot. And if that happens, then that’s all she wrote."

Barnes was projected as a lottery pick in last year's draft, but said he has no regrets about remaining in school.

"Not at all," said Barnes, who has raised his scoring average to 17.7 per game. "Especially when I saw the schedule, how many days they're playing three games in a row (over three nights). That’s crazy. I love college basketball. To be able to start on time and be able to go out and play on the aircraft carrier (in North Carolina’s Nov. 11 game against Michigan State onboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego) and do those kind of great things, I don’t regret it whatsoever."

He indicated he will leave open his option to return if the Tar Heels don’t win it all.

Via FOXSportsFlorida.com

[thatlookseasy]

Don't follow the NBA much anymore. But isn't it just our luck that the year we more than likely get the #1 pick is the year there is no slam dunk superstar in the Draft?

Short of Barnes or Gilchrist lighting it up and dominating in route to a championship, Anthony Davis is the number 1 pick. While he may not be a great fit on the bobcats and he is still skinny as poo, he has crazy potential and might be the best defensive prospect to come out since Dwight Howard

[rico6]

Drummond has Dwight Howard potential. Would much rather take a gamble on him than Barnes.

[C-A-T-S]

This mock has us taking Doron Lamb in the 2nd round, thoughts?

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

[Wanderlai]

This mock has us taking Doron Lamb in the 2nd round, thoughts?

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

good pickup in the 2nd.

[Kramerica]

So lots of draft experts are comparing Davis to Marcus Camby or Chris Bosh. And they're comparing Drummond to Dwight Howard. Yet they have us taking Davis with the first pick. Obviously if you're looking to build a nucleus of young talent, you'd want more of Dwight Howard type player, especially when it seems like your current bigs are more comfortable beyond the arc than in the paint. So what is the reasoning? I was thinking about the risk factor, but Davis even seems like a bigger risk at this point. Or maybe it's a higher ceiling with Davis. What am I missing?

[rico6]

Davis's ceiling isn't nearly as high as Drummond's.

[GamecockSmitty4]

Davis is more likely to reach his ceiling than Drummond. Also, he has great BBall IQ. Even though he is new to the position, he is almost always in the right position and knows how to get the ball in the hoop.

[C-A-T-S]

Davis is more likely to reach his ceiling than Drummond.

x 1,000

[thatlookseasy]

So lots of draft experts are comparing Davis to Marcus Camby or Chris Bosh. And they're comparing Drummond to Dwight Howard. Yet they have us taking Davis with the first pick. Obviously if you're looking to build a nucleus of young talent, you'd want more of Dwight Howard type player, especially when it seems like your current bigs are more comfortable beyond the arc than in the paint. So what is the reasoning? I was thinking about the risk factor, but Davis even seems like a bigger risk at this point. Or maybe it's a higher ceiling with Davis. What am I missing?

And there lies the problem with player comparisons. Its nice to get an idea of how similar sorts of players preformed in the league, but ultimately they dont really predict what the guy is going to do, especially when you're dealing with unique guys like Davis and Drummond.

Just look at Dwight Howard- coming in to the NBA, who would you compare him to? A big man with great size, strength, and fantastic athleticism, but still raw skill wise coming straight out of high school. The best comparisons at the were probably Kwame Brown and Amare Stoudemire. Now that hes in the NBA, we can see that he plays nothing like those guys, but there isnt really anybody that plays like Dwight right now.

The biggest thing for me when you compare Davis and Drummond- I think Anthony Davis can come in the NBA right now and contribute. He might be the best defensive player I've ever seen in college, and if he gains 15 pounds or so I think he is a Tyson Chandler level player on D. As for Andre Drummond, I just dont see him stepping up and producing right away. Dwight Howard averaged 12 and 10 as a rookie in the NBA, Drummond is putting up 10 and 7 at the same age- in college.

Most importantly though, Anthony Davis is stepping his game up and improving as the season progresses. He is the best player on the best team in the country, currently 27-1 and has scored in double figures every game except 1 since December. Andre Drummond's team has lost 7 of their last 10 and desperately needs someone to step up, yet he has still not established himself as anything more than a solid role player.

Good god, I didnt realize I was going to write this much when I started

[HeatCheck]

Pretty good game at MSG between ND and St. John's.

There's this dude on St. John's that just stood out physically to me and it is Moe Harkless. He just looks like a NBA body and he is only a freshman.

He looked very athletic and could finish around the rim. He had a clutch And1 near the end of the game. Read that he needs to work on his shooting though. Not sure if he will enter the draft as he is only a freshman but someone to look out for especially if we go big in Anthony Davis in the first. I am sure if he comes out this year he'll be an early second round pick.

Finished with 22 Pts (8/16 shooting), 9 Reb, 1 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 Blk.

[God]

Moe Harkless will be a mid-late first rounder for sure if he comes out, and I think he will. He has pretty good potential, if the St. Johns team sticks around they will be nasty.