In the days leading up to the NBA's May 20 Draft Lottery, NYKnicks.com will look at the top-rated players potentially available to teams with lottery picks in the 2008 NBA Draft. We offer these profiles for fans to familiarize themselves with some of the biggest names in the draft. A player's inclusion in this series of articles is based purely on his rankings in the scouting services and mainstream media and does not necessarily reflect the Knicks organization's preferences for the June 26 Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

We continue our series with a profile of Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, a projected first-rounder, according to major scouting services and numerous publications.

Jerryd Bayless began the 2007-08 season at the University of Arizona as a young, solid prospect whom scouts felt could eventually develop into a quality NBA-caliber player. A breakthrough freshman year, however, did wonders for Bayless' draft potential, and the Wildcats star now figures to be one of the top selections in June's draft.

A highly-touted college recruit out of St. Mary's High School in Arizona, Bayless averaged 33.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists as a senior. Despite these numbers, he did not generate the same sort of national hype and buzz that surrounded other incoming freshman such as O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo guard exploded onto the scene, averaging 19.7 points, 4.0 assists, 2.7 boards and one steal to vault himself into their company and -- in the eyes of some pundits -- might have even managed to surpass them.

An explosive leaper, Bayless is referred to as one of the most athletic players in this year's draft, and it is hard to ignore his remarkable athleticism. The fleet-footed point guard has shown an ability to blow past defenders and deliver explosive finish at the rim.

While Bayless is especially strong off the dribble, draft experts also note the exceptional elevation on his jumper, deep range on his three-pointers, and the fact that he's not afraid to pull the trigger with the game on the line. The Arizona guard's multi-dimensional offensive game has been compared by many to both Gilbert Arenas and Monta Ellis, while other observers compare him fellow Wildcat Mike Bibby.

Bayless has repeatedly shown an ability to deliver in the big game. Against rival Arizona State on Feb. 10, he scored a career-high 39 points while shooting 6-for-10 from behind the arc. That game marked the first in a trio of consecutive 30-point games in which Bayless also netted 33 against California and 31 vs. Stanford, marking the first time in Arizona history that a player scored 30 or more points in three straight games.

Altogether, Bayless finished in double figures 27 times, including 12 20-point and four 30-point games. He shot 45.8 percent from the field and a team-leading 83.9 percent from the charity stripe while setting the school's record for points by a freshman with 592. Bayless was a second-team All-America choice by Sports Illustrated and a third-team pick by Rivals.com

While most scouts say they look forward to seeing Bayless get stronger physically as he matures, they often note his potential a lock-down NBA defender due to his quick hands and basketball sense. He is also committed to playing defense, a rare commodity among star players of his generation, but is sometimes criticized for his ball defense and ability to fight through screens.

Overall, however, scouts are sold on Bayless as a first-round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft because of the many ways he puts points on the board. Bayless is considered a dynamic scorer who could thrive in the up-tempo, run-and-gun offense that many NBA teams have adopted in recent years.