2012 Mock Draft TrackerBy:

Rising

James McAdoo, 6’9 SF/PF, North Carolina

McAdoo took home Co-MVP honors at both the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic.  At 6’9, McAdoo has the versatility to play both the 3 and the 4, making him a tough matchup for opposing forwards.  He shown he can be a threat from the outside, as well dealing in the paint.  Scouts will love his NBA body and ability to run the floor in transition.  His overall feel for the game should allow him to make an easier transition to the next level.

Anthony Davis, 6’10 PF, Kentucky

Davis has quickly established himself as the potential prize of the 2012 draft with his towering ceiling.  He shared Co-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic, and made some of the elite players in his class look like freshman in high school.  Davis is a long 6’10 who reeks havoc in the paint on both sides of the ball.  Considering he was a guard not too long ago, he possesses the ability to create opportunities off the dribble, making Davis a difficult mismatch at whatever position he’s playing.  With a year to polish his overall game, he’ll likely show glimpses that will cause mass drooling amongst NBA scouts and coaches.

Myck Kabongo, 6’2 PG, Texas

Maybe the quickest of the guards in the 2012 mock draft, Kabongo has shown both advanced ball-handling and passing skills over the past few showcase events.  He’s flashy yet poised, confident but not cocky.  He’ a true point guard who’s not focused on scoring- and pure, talented point guards are awfully tough to come by.

Marquis Teague, 6’2 PG, Kentucky

Teague’s athleticism is off the charts, and with a tight handle and an explosive first step, scouts will be locked in to finding out how effective his point guards tools really are.  In the open court, forget about it.  He’s added strength to his quickness, which looks good from an NBA standpoint in terms of finishing at the rim.  Teague should be the next guard in line to excel under the direction of coach Calipari in his freshman year at Kentucky.

Slippin’

Maalik Wayns, 6’1 PG, Villanova

Wayns failed to improve upon his weakness as a freshman.  He generated virtually no buzz as a point guard prospect for this year’s draft, despite so few point guards in this year’s pool.  We love his combination of strength and quickness, but as a half-court facilitator he has a ways to go.  He also presented himself as a non-threat from the outside, shooting a woeful 27% from behind the arch.  His best strength relies on his ability to find the open space in transition and get there, accelerating quickly while changing direction.  He has an important junior year ahead of him, where he’ll be able to dominate the ball without Corey Fisher in the backcourt.  Creating easy opportunities for his teammates and improving his jump shot will be two areas of improvement for Wayns moving forward.

Austin Rivers, 6’4 SG, Duke

We all know, including Rivers, that he can score the ball as well as anyone.  But can he do so and make his teammates better in the process is the question that will be on scouts/coaches minds.  He’ll have to work on recognizing the opportunity to attack, and when to give it up.  Allowing the ball to stick to his hands while he slowly prepares for his one on one move can cause stagnant offensive possessions and disrupt ball movement.  From a talent standpoint, Rivers has it all.  But at 6’4, he’s an undersized shooting guard who’s used to dominating the ball.  Proving that he can gel in a five man offense at the next level should keep him in lottery discussions.

Michael Gilchrist, 6’6 SF, Kentucky

Gilchrist has shown big-time athleticism and an all-around game, but there hasn’t been any single skill that has stood out.  He’s not the most elusive off the dribble, and lacks fluency on his unorthodox outside shot. He struggled mightily from the line at the Jordan Classic, and didn’t look comfortable creating outside looks off the dribble.  Still, his impressive scoring instincts and relentless style of play should make him difficult to contain at the next level, not to mention his on-ball defensive capabilities.  He’s got some work to do in the shot creating department, but should remain in lottery talks due to his athleticism and defensive versatility.