The 2014 NBA Draft is projected as one of the most talented draft in more than a decade, and this is the reason why several NBA teams allegedly decided to go into "tank" mode this season, hoping to deeper into the lottery to get a chance of acquiring a potential franchise player.
Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins was the consensus potential top pick in this summer's draft, but another Jayhawk is slowly taking the spotlight from the more-celebrated Wiggins -- his teammate Joel Embiid.
Chad Ford of ESPN named Embiid as the potential first-overall pick in this year's rookie draft through his famous Big Board, while several well-known NBA Draft Boards such as from DraftExpress and NBADraft.net also put the Kansas freshman on top of their list.
Embiid, who was described as the best-kept secret of the talent-laden Jayhawks squad heading into the season, has been turning heads in the ongoing collegiate basketball season.
The 7-foot Cameroonian is averaging 11.0 points to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in his freshman season with Kansas.
Embiid recently took the spotlight from Wiggins and Marcus Smart, another top prospect for this year's rookie selection, in Kansas' 80-78 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday. He almost recorded a triple-double performance with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks.
With his oozing potential, sources said that the only thing that can prevent Embiid from getting his name called first in June's draft is if he decides to play another year in college.
When asked about the possibility of staying in college, Embiid sounded like he is leaning towards taking that extended path to the professional ranks.
"I want to be the best at my position one day," Embiid declared in an ESPN interview. "I'm trying to learn everything and what other people did. All of the great big men went to college at least two or three years. I think it's a big factor. I don't know if it will always work, but I think it's the best choice."
Jayhawks coach Bill Self agreed that his prized freshman is top-pick worthy this year. But if he will have it his way, the veteran coach wants Embiid to take another year or two in college to reach his ceiling before turning pro.
