Projected #1 Pick
Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
Davis committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, coached by John Calipari. Before his college career began, he was being mentioned as the NBA draft first overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. In late February Dick Vitale mentioned the possibility that Davis might complete the men's college basketball awards Grand Slam of National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft."
During the exhibition portion of the season for the 2011–12 Wildcats, Calipari described Davis as follows: "He’s 6–10 with a 7–3 wingspan and he can shoot the 3 and dribble the ball and lead the break. . ." Less than a month into the season, ESPN's Andy Katz described him similarly: "Davis offers a multitude of skills for the Wildcats with his ability to block shots, run the floor, score in the low post and face up to the basketball." Since Calipari had coached Marcus Camby, who was also a tall shot-blocker, Davis drew comparisons to Camby. ESPN selected Davis as a preseason All-American along with teammate Terrence Jones. Some sources, such as Blue Ribbon, selected Connecticut's Andre Drummond as the preseason Freshman/Newcomer of the Year ahead of Davis,although Davis was the only freshman on the ESPN 10-man preseason team. Davis only received one vote for the Associated Press preseason All-America team.
Davis committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, coached by John Calipari. Before his college career began, he was being mentioned as the NBA draft first overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. In late February Dick Vitale mentioned the possibility that Davis might complete the men's college basketball awards Grand Slam of National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft."
During the exhibition portion of the season for the 2011–12 Wildcats, Calipari described Davis as follows: "He’s 6–10 with a 7–3 wingspan and he can shoot the 3 and dribble the ball and lead the break. . ." Less than a month into the season, ESPN's Andy Katz described him similarly: "Davis offers a multitude of skills for the Wildcats with his ability to block shots, run the floor, score in the low post and face up to the basketball." Since Calipari had coached Marcus Camby, who was also a tall shot-blocker, Davis drew comparisons to Camby. ESPN selected Davis as a preseason All-American along with teammate Terrence Jones. Some sources, such as Blue Ribbon, selected Connecticut's Andre Drummond as the preseason Freshman/Newcomer of the Year ahead of Davis,although Davis was the only freshman on the ESPN 10-man preseason team. Davis only received one vote for the Associated Press preseason All-America team.
2012 NBA Mock Draft
1 - Anthony Davis (Kentucky) - New Orleans Hornets (Went 1st to New Orleans Hornets)
2 - Bradley Beal (Florida) - Charlotte Bobcats (Went 3rd to Washington Wizards)
3 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) - Washington Wizards (Went 2nd to Charlotte Bobcats)
4 - Harrison Barnes (North Carolina) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 7th to Golden State Warriors)
5 - Thomas Robinson (Kansas) - Sacramento Kings (Went 5th to Sacramento Kings)
6 - Damian Lillard (Weber State) - Portland Trailblazers (Went 6th to Portland Trailblazers) - Rookie Of The Year
7 - Dion Waiters (Syracuse) - Golden State Warriors (Went 4th to Cleveland Cavaliers)
8 - Andre Drummond (Connecticut) - Toronto Raptors (Went 9th to Detroit Pistons)
9 - John Henson (North Carolina) - Detroit Pistons (Went 14th to Milwaukee Bucks)
10 - Austin Rivers (Duke) - New Orleans Hornets (Went 10th to New Orleans Hornets)
11 - Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) - Portland Trailblazers (Went 17th to Cleveland Cavaliers)
12 - Meyers Leonard (Illinois) - Houston Rockets (Went 11th to Portland Trailblazers)
13 - Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut) - Phoenix Suns (Went 12th to Houston Rockets)
14 - Terrence Ross (Washington) - Milwaukee Bucks (Went 8th to Toronto Raptors)
15 - Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure) - Philadelphia 76ers (Went 19th to Orlando Magic)
16 - Moe Harkless (St. Johns) - Houston Rockets (Went 15th to Philadelphia 76ers)
17 - Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 27th to Miami Heat)
18 - Marquis Teague (Kentucky) - Houston Rockets (Went 29th to Chicago Bulls)
19 - Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) - Orlando Magic (Went 21st to Boston Celtics)
20 - Kendall Marshall (North Carolina) - Denver Nuggets (Went 13th to Phoenix Suns)
21 - Perry Jones III (Baylor) - Boston Celtics (Went 28th to Oklahoma City Thunder)
22 - Royce White (Iowa State) - Boston Celtics (Went 16th to Houston Rockets)
23 - Terrence Jones (Kentucky) - Atlanta Hawks (Went 18th to Houston Rockets)
24 - Draymond Green (Michigan State) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 35th to Golden State Warriors)
25 - Fab Melo (Syracuse) - Memphis Grizzlies (Went 22nd to Boston Celtics)
26 - Jeff Taylor (Vanderbilt) - Indiana Pacers (Went 31st to Charlotte Bobcats)
27 - Evan Fournier (France) - Philadelphia 76ers (Went 20th to Denver Nuggets)
28 - Doron Lamb (Kentucky) - Oklahoma City Thunder (Went 42nd to Milwaukee Bucks)
29 - Will Barton (Memphis) - Chicago Bulls (Went 40th to Portland Trailblazers)
30 - Quincy Miller (Baylor) - Golden State Warriors (Went 38th to Denver Nuggets)
2 - Bradley Beal (Florida) - Charlotte Bobcats (Went 3rd to Washington Wizards)
3 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) - Washington Wizards (Went 2nd to Charlotte Bobcats)
4 - Harrison Barnes (North Carolina) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 7th to Golden State Warriors)
5 - Thomas Robinson (Kansas) - Sacramento Kings (Went 5th to Sacramento Kings)
6 - Damian Lillard (Weber State) - Portland Trailblazers (Went 6th to Portland Trailblazers) - Rookie Of The Year
7 - Dion Waiters (Syracuse) - Golden State Warriors (Went 4th to Cleveland Cavaliers)
8 - Andre Drummond (Connecticut) - Toronto Raptors (Went 9th to Detroit Pistons)
9 - John Henson (North Carolina) - Detroit Pistons (Went 14th to Milwaukee Bucks)
10 - Austin Rivers (Duke) - New Orleans Hornets (Went 10th to New Orleans Hornets)
11 - Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) - Portland Trailblazers (Went 17th to Cleveland Cavaliers)
12 - Meyers Leonard (Illinois) - Houston Rockets (Went 11th to Portland Trailblazers)
13 - Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut) - Phoenix Suns (Went 12th to Houston Rockets)
14 - Terrence Ross (Washington) - Milwaukee Bucks (Went 8th to Toronto Raptors)
15 - Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure) - Philadelphia 76ers (Went 19th to Orlando Magic)
16 - Moe Harkless (St. Johns) - Houston Rockets (Went 15th to Philadelphia 76ers)
17 - Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 27th to Miami Heat)
18 - Marquis Teague (Kentucky) - Houston Rockets (Went 29th to Chicago Bulls)
19 - Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) - Orlando Magic (Went 21st to Boston Celtics)
20 - Kendall Marshall (North Carolina) - Denver Nuggets (Went 13th to Phoenix Suns)
21 - Perry Jones III (Baylor) - Boston Celtics (Went 28th to Oklahoma City Thunder)
22 - Royce White (Iowa State) - Boston Celtics (Went 16th to Houston Rockets)
23 - Terrence Jones (Kentucky) - Atlanta Hawks (Went 18th to Houston Rockets)
24 - Draymond Green (Michigan State) - Cleveland Cavaliers (Went 35th to Golden State Warriors)
25 - Fab Melo (Syracuse) - Memphis Grizzlies (Went 22nd to Boston Celtics)
26 - Jeff Taylor (Vanderbilt) - Indiana Pacers (Went 31st to Charlotte Bobcats)
27 - Evan Fournier (France) - Philadelphia 76ers (Went 20th to Denver Nuggets)
28 - Doron Lamb (Kentucky) - Oklahoma City Thunder (Went 42nd to Milwaukee Bucks)
29 - Will Barton (Memphis) - Chicago Bulls (Went 40th to Portland Trailblazers)
30 - Quincy Miller (Baylor) - Golden State Warriors (Went 38th to Denver Nuggets)