2012 NBA Draft Recap: Top 5 Undrafted Players Most Likely to Be Signed

2012 NBA Draft Recap: Top 5 Undrafted Players Most Likely to Be Signed: Every year, there are experienced players that were very productive at the college level that don’t get selected in the NBA Draft. Sometimes, playing in a smaller conference causes these prospects to be overlooked and their numbers dismissed. Other times, foreign prospects that can be drafted and left overseas to develop are picked instead. Whatever the reason, several of these players that go undrafted still end up working out for NBA teams and eventually making a roster. Players like Avery Johnson, John Starks, Ben Wallace and Udonis Haslem are all guys that went undrafted but went on to have productive careers. With that in mind, here is a list of the best undrafted players from the 2012 NBA Draft.

2012 NBA Draft Recap: Top 5 Undrafted Players Most Likely to Be Signed

1.      Drew Gordon, Power Forward, New Mexico

Seeing Gordon go undrafted was certainly a shock. He averaged a double-double in each of the last two seasons, averaging more than 11 rebounds as a senior. Sure, his offensive game isn’t polished and he is slightly undersized, but Gordon is also strong, athletic and active on the boards. He can definitely come off the bench for an NBA team and provide rebounding and hustle plays. I mentioned Udonis Haslem is the introduction, and Gordon could be a very similar player. In fact, he is probably a more athletic version of Haslem without the mid-range game. Gordon will find a home in the NBA.

2.      Scott Machado, Point Guard, Iona

It is hard to imagine that in an era when point guard play has proven to be so critical to a team’s success that there was not space on a roster for Machado. He averaged nearly 10 assists per game last year compared to just three turnovers, and he is a pass-first point guard with excellent court vision. No, he doesn’t have the size or speed to be an explosive scorer like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, but for a team that already has athletes and scorers, Macahdo can make their lives easier. He is an unselfish, smart player, and some team in need of point guard depth will give him a shot.

3.      Kevin Jones, Power Forward, West Virginia

How a player averages 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Big East and doesn’t get drafted is beyond me. Jones is another undersized power forward, and he wasn’t blessed with great leaping ability either. That being said, he has to know how to play the game at least a little bit to be able to average a double-double in the toughest conference in college basketball. Not to mention the fact that he developed a reliable mid-range jump shot and was continuing to extend his range to the 3-point line as a senior. Jones was an incredibly productive college player, and more importantly, he has shown the willingness and ability to improve and expand his game. He will carve out some kind of bench role with an NBA team.

4.      John Shurna, Forward, Northwestern

Even though he is 6-9, Shurna doesn’t rebound well, he can’t create his own shot, and he isn’t a dominant defender. Still, it was a bit of a surprise that he wasn’t drafted because the big man shot more than 43 percent from 3-point range as a junior and a senior, averaging 20 points per game last season with the Wildcats. Shurna can light it up from beyond the arc, and his size makes him a difficult matchup on the perimeter. He is going to be relegated to solely spot-up shooting duty, but players like Steve Novak have shown in recent years that big guys that can shot can come off the bench in spurts and provide added offense. Teams like Miami and San Antonio that love to surround their stars with 3-point shooters will likely be giving Shurna a look.

5.      J’Covan Brown, Shooting Guard, Texas

Brown led the Big 12 in scoring last season, averaging more than 20 points per game. His offensive game isn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but he simply finds ways to score, and it is tough to argue with the results. Being undersized definitely hurt his chances, and he did himself no favors by showing up at the pre-draft combines with the most body fat of any player. Brown shot himself in the foot with his poor preparation and may have to play overseas for a year or in the D-League. That being said, his ability to score will keep him on the radar of NBA teams, and if he continues to score wherever he ends up, he will earn his shot eventually.

Get the latest NBA odds daily on NSAwins.com plus visit for NBA expert predictions and updated 2012 NBA Championship Odds.