2012 NBA Draft Early Entrants List

Here you will find the official list, and I will let you know if a player has hired an agent or not. Also, I will give some commentary on his game and where I think he will be selected. This will be updated regularly as more and more players declare. Click the Sports By Blayze logo on the top left corner of the screen to access the main page of the blog and then scroll down to find the most recent update.

Updated: March 27, 2012

Officially Declared (Hired Agent)

SG Austin Rivers, Fr, Duke. Rivers is a big name and has an explosive, NBA friendly offensive game. But where does he fit in a starting lineup? He is more of a combination guard, a Monta Ellis (best case scenario) or Jimmer Fredette (worst case) type. He will probably be at his best as a first guard off the bench to provide some offense to a second unit. But if he hones his offensive game and greatly improves his defense, he could eventually become a starting shooting guard. A lot will depend on what team he lands on and what kind of coaching he will receive. But his offense will be coveted, and I think he will be a late lottery pick. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 8 through 15.

PG Damian Lillard, Jr, Weber St. Weber St. missed out on the NCAA Tournament, so Lillard was not able to become a household name like someone like CJ McCollom of Lehigh. Lillard was the second leading scorer in the entire nation this season, and was a one man show for Weber St. Like most small school studs, Lillard had the ball in his hands pretty much all the time and was counted on to do everything. While it is true that he is more of a scoring point guard right now, his 2.3 turnovers in 34 minutes a game shows that he has the skills to be a floor leader. He will battle with polar opposite Kendall Marshall to be the first point guard off the board in a shallow point guard draft. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 10 through 20.

SF Moe Harkless, Fr, St. John's. Moe Harkless was the Rookie of the Year for the nation's deepest and most competitive conference. He showed leadership and a well rounded game during his one and only year with St. John's. He has a long, wiry frame that translates into good shot blocking and rebounding for a player of his size. He will be a bit of a throwback small forward in that he prefers to slash instead of simply settling for jump shots. He will need to add some strength but it is not inconceivable that he could provide production as a rookie. I think he is hanging around the 14 through 18 range, but I would not be surprised if he knocked down the late lottery door, similar to what Paul George did a couple years ago. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 14 through 20.

SF/PF Royce White, So, Iowa St. The best Hawkeye since probably Marcus Fizer, White will hope to parlay a very good NCAA Tournament performance into a first round draft pick. He is probably a lock for the first round right now, but there are question marks. First of all, he has a well documented anxiety disorder, including a fear of flying, that he will just have to get over. The NBA does not prod and poke prospects like the NFL does, but NBA teams are going to due their homework with this issue. Secondly, he is a bit of a tweener on the court. But he has a very well rounded game. The talent is there for him to sneak into the lottery, but right now I will put him in the late teens. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 15 through 25

SG Dion Waiters, So, Syracuse. Waiters came off the bench for the Orange but was probably their best and most consistent player in 2011-2012. He would have been better off returning for his junior year, when the team would have been his, but he is a first round pick right now. He is undersized but strong, and should be able to get his shot off against taller guards. A team drafting him might want him to play the same role he played for the Orange, a guard off the bench who can spark the second unit and back up both guard spots. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 15 through 25.

C Fab Melo, So, Syracuse. It is a real shame that Melo was suspended prior to the NCAA Tournament, because Syracuse could have really used his shot blocking and rebounding. Melo is still extremely raw, and may never develop into an NBA starter, but he is a first round prospect simply due to the fact that he is 7 foot and blocks shots. He is a game changer on that end of the court. But his offense is virtually non existent. The team that drafts him will have to have a load of patience, and realize that he may never pan out, similar to someone like Hasheem Thabeet. Projected Selection: 1st Round, 20 through 30

SG Will Barton, So, Memphis. Barton had a tremendous sophomore season for the young Tigers. He improved all of his scoring peripherals tremendously. Despite his improving game, he has plenty of holes and could struggle to crack the first round bubble. He weighs only 170 pounds and will undoubtedly be pushed around on the next level. He has a good slashing game but that most likely won't work with guys weighing 100 pounds more then him clogging up the lane. He will have to improve his shooting to become a factor. He is an exciting player, and depending on how many players declare, could be picked late in the first round. As it stands now, I think he will be one of the first players to come off the board in the second round. Projected Selection: Late 1st to Early 2nd Round.

PG Maalik Wayns, Jr, Villanova. There are a lot of good NCAA point guards, but very few of them can make the transition to the NBA. The most common reasons are lack of explosiveness and leadership, or the simple fact that they are just not talented enough. Wayns was a good college scorer that is just not big and fast enough to be an NBA point guard. He also turned the ball over 3 times per game. His game just does not translate. Guys like him can eventually carve out NBA careers, see John Lucas in Chicago right now, but it usually takes a few years overseas to improve his game. Projected Selection: Late 2nd Round to Undrafted.

PF Renardo Sidney, Jr, Mississippi St. The tumultuous college career of Renardo Sidney has come to an end. The talented but troubled big man regressed badly during his final year with the Bulldogs, going out with a whimper in the NIT Tournament with 3 points and 3 rebounds. There is talent here, but with his attitude and off the court resume, coupled with his weight troubles, I don't see a team using a draft pick on him. He will have to prove himself in the summer league and D League before a team gives him a chance. Projected Selection: Undrafted.

PG/SG J'Covan Brown, Jr, Texas. Brown was a good volume scorer for Texas last year. He averaged 20 points per game on a ton of shots, but didn't really help the Longhorns win games. He is your classic NCAA scorer who has no chance to be drafted in the league. But those guys who aren't drafted can hone their skills overseas and emerge on an NBA roster a few years later, so this might not be the last we see of Brown. We won't see him in 2012-2013, however. Projected Selection: Undrafted.

Officially Declared (Did Not Hire Agent)

Every year several lesser known players declare just to test the draft waters. These guys usually aren't worth talking about. At least not yet.

SG Jared Cunningham, Jr, Oregon
SG Quincy Roberts, Jr, Grambling
SF Victor Rudd, So, South Florida

Officially Returning

A guy can change his mind of course, but if they announce that they are returning to college I will list them here.

PF Patric Young, So, Florida. I have had Young in my mock drafts in the teens all year, but returning to school is definitely the right move. He has an NBA body, defense and rebounding right now, but if he wants to reach the lottery, he will really have to continue to improve on the offensive end. Billy Donovan really brings his guys along slowly, but Young will be a junior next year and could finally become a big part of the offense for the Gators. He could be a lottery pick next year.

PG Myck Kabongo, Fr, Texas. Kabongo, the much heralded recruit, had a good freshman year for the Longhorns, but his decision to return to school was a very good one. He has a long way to go before he is strong and smart enough to lead an NBA team. He will return to Texas, where J'Covan Brown will be gone, so the ball will be all his next year. If he can improve his decision making and work on his offense, he could be a lottery pick in a year.

SF Doug McDermott, So, Creighton. McDermott is a college stud, but one of those guys who could struggle on the next level. Unfortunately, if you are white and a big time scorer in college, you will be connected to guys like Adam Morrison and Gordon Hayward. McDermott does not have the athleticism of Hayward, and will probably be a very late first or early second round pick when he declares. I don't think another year of college will improve his stock. He will continue to be a beast in college.

Jonathan Carrano

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