After watching OJ Mayo single handily keep the over-matched Memphis Grizzlies in a game against the Phoenix Suns, I am convinced.

OJ Mayo is not only the uncrowned Rookie of the Year, and the most exciting player to enter the league since King Lebron James, but he has been a pro for a while.

It’s kind of scary to think of how good the University of Southern Cal basketball team would be this year had he stayed in college one more season.

Mayo scored 33 points, which is impressive in its own right, but he scored a majority of them when it counted, in the fourth quarter, to keep his team alive.

Going head-to-head with Suns swingman Leandro Barbosa was one of the highlights of the season, as Mayo won the scoring battle, but the Suns won the game.

That may be a recurring theme for Mayo, who may find life in Memphis to be frustrating at times.

The Griz have a good group of young talent, but they will not win a lot this year.

Mayo, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, and Hakim Warrick could get to be something really special in due time. That is, if they all stay together.

Between free agency, and the possibility of the Grizzlies getting crazy by doing one of those fire sales again, I would enjoy the opportunity to see them play now.

Through eight games, Mayo is leading the team in scoring, at 21 points a game. Add in five rebounds, and a couple of assists, and the 6′5" Mayo may make the Minnesota Timberwolves regret swapping him for Kevin Love.