A lot of hype surrounded the guards of the 2007 recruiting class, and few did more to answer that hype than Jerryd Bayless. After being overshadowed sometimes by bigger names like O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose in high school, Bayless put the country on notice in his only season at Arizona.

His freshmen season didn't start according to plan. He signed with Arizona mainly to play under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olsen and his system that has groomed countless NBA guards. Due to personal issues, Olsen took a season long leave of absence, putting Kevin O'Neill in as the interm head coach.

Its effect on Bayless though was minimal to say the least. It was evident from game one that no matter who the head coach was, Bayless was going to produce at a high level. On a team that already had proven collegiate players and future pros, Bayless quickly became the leader.

He became the leader of the Wildcats and there is very little he can't do with the ball in his hands. He's an explosive finisher, consistent shooter, and a tremendous ball handler. Typically there would be major question marks about a 6'3 scoring guard who is far from a true point guard. With guys like Allen Iverson, Monta Ellis, Tony Parker, and to a lesser extent Louis Williams wrecking havoc on the league though, scouts are not questioning Bayless - they're coveting him.

On some draft boards right now Jerryd Bayless is ranked as the third best prospect.

How the lottery plays out could be more vital to Bayless than any other prospect. Right now the Timberwolves are slated to pick third, and it's hard to imagine them taking Bayless considering their other needs and the guards they currently have that high. If a team like New York or Los Angeles lucks into the top three, then he could indeed end up going that high.

It's important for Bayless to separate himself from Eric Gordon and O.J. Mayo. Right now the three of them are viewed as the best guards in the draft behind Derrick Rose. All three will likely go in the 5-8 range. It's just all about who stands out in workouts. Bayless, being the smaller of the three and the least capable of guarding the two position, will have the most to prove during workouts.

What is working in his favor is that out of the three, he holds the best potential to play the point guard position full time. The best fit for Bayless is on the Los Angeles Clippers, but don't be surprised if a team in the top five ignores team need and goes with Bayless simply based on the hope that he could become a matchup nightmare in the same mold as Tony Parker or Allen Iverson. 

Check out the 2008 Playoff Weekly Stats Leaders Here.