Amari Bailey is the talk of Westwood.

UCLA’s star freshman was impressive in the team’s exhibition over San Diego State. He’s been impressive in practice. He’s impressed coach Mick Cronin and his teammates, one of whom thinks Bailey isn’t long for UCLA.

“I don’t see him being here much longer than six more months,” guard Jaylen Clark said, per The L.A. Times’ Ben Bolch.

A one-and-done prospect isn’t uncommon. Sometimes you get a situation like with Peyton Watson a year ago, where the talent and the tools are obviously there, but it just doesn’t click in the lone college season. Still, the NBA is the NBA and that allure is strong and a team takes a chance. With Bailey, UCLA might have another first-round draft pick who exits town after just a year, but it sounds like UCLA might be able to get even more of a contribution this time around from the young guard.

A 6-foot-5 freshman combo guard, Bailey was the consensus top recruit in the state of California last cycle. He was a top-10 prospect nationally. As a senior at Sierra Canyon, Bailey averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists after returning from a foot injury. As a junior, he put up 28.2 a game to go with 8.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

After the scrimmage against the Aztecs, SDSU coach Brian Dutcher commented to UCLA coach Mick Cronin how impressed he was by Bailey, saying he doesn’t hunt bad shots.

“Like, most McDonald’s All-Americans don’t defend and hunt shots because people tell them that’s how they gotta play to get drafted, but he knows that that’s not basketball,” Cronin said of Bailey. “He’s a very basketball-savvy guy, very intelligent guy. That’s why he’s an aberration (among) most freshmen. He gets that. He gets that you can have a great game and have eight points, eight assists, eight rebounds.”

Bailey is projected to be a starter for the Bruins, and the anticipation is building for the team’s Nov. 7 opener against Sacramento State. It’ll be fans’ first chance to see Bailey in a game that counts. Expect plenty of scouts to tune in as well.

The top two picks in the draft appear to be set before the new college basketball season even starts, but Bailey has a chance to be a lottery talent.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, who has Bailey as a first-round pick in his most recent 2023 Mock Draft, wrote this on his game:

Bailey’s aggression and motor definitely vibe with the things Cronin values in players, as Bailey is seen as a terrific slasher and transition player who should be able to create offense for himself a bit more easily due to his handle and footwork when driving.