While Kansas Jayhawks freshman Andrew Wiggins has been trying to live up to the "next LeBron" label, his teammate, center Joel Embiid, has taken a much different path to the same point. Wiggins very well could be the first overall pick, but any betting man would first look to Embiid if they were asked who might go No. 1 instead of the heralded swingman.
NBA Draft 2014: Joel Embiid’s timeline to the pros
In a matter of a few years, Joel Embiid evolved from Cameroonian basketball camp attendee to a potential first-overall NBA Draft pick.
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Embiid first had to come to the United States to gain his notoriety. Then, he had to find a place in the high school ranks, earn the respect that would lead to college offers, then prove himself as a freshman at an NCAA powerhouse. Even injuries might not derail his draft stock, so his official declaration for the 2014 NBA Draft on Wednesday was hardly a surprise.
It was the end of a wild few years that began back in 2011.
November 2011: At the urging of Cameroonian NBA forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who hosted Embiid at a basketball camp in his native country, the big man comes to the United States and joins high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy (Fla.). He plays at Montverde for five months beginning in November of 2011 but sees limited minutes playing with a talented roster that includes current Clemson sophomore center Landry Nnoko, Kentucky freshman big man Dakarai Johnson, and Florida guards Kasey Hill and Michael Frazier.
July 2012: Embiid puts his name on the recruiting map by showing well at the Adidas Invitational as a member of the Florida Elite AAU squad.
September 2012: The Rock School in Gainsville, Fla., adds Embiid to its roster after the big man leaves Montverde in search of a better opportunity to shine.
November 13, 2012: Embiid commits to play for Kansas over Florida and Texas as a top-20 recruit, but his stock is still rising.
April 13, 2013: Embiid earns significant recognition as he quickly shoots up the recruiting rankings and plays in the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic game.
November 19, 2013: Kansas -- in its third game of the 2013-14 season -- beats Iona by 20 points in a breakout game for Embiid, who scores 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting and grabs 13 rebounds. He also adds two blocks.
December 10, 2013: Embiid makes his first start for coach Bill Self and scores six points, grabs six rebounds and adds three blocks in a 67-61 loss to Florida and Embiid’s high school teammates Hill and Frazier II.
January 13, 2014: Iowa State Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg calls Embiid "the best player in the country" after KU wins 77-70 behind 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks from the freshman center.
January 18, 2014: In an 80-78 win against Oklahoma State, Embiid records 13 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks.
February 8, 2014: The big man tweaks his back against West Virginia, but KUSports.com reports that an MRI after a Kansas State game three days later showed no injury despite a hobbled-looking Embiid struggling.
February 15, 2014: Back and ankle injuries keep Embiid from playing in a Kansas win against TCU.
March 1, 2014: Returning from a one-game absence against TCU, Embiid plays four productive games in a row but injures himself in his last game of the year against Oklahoma State. MRIs and second opinions in the next two days determine Embiid has a stress fracture. He’s held out against Texas Tech on March 5 and misses the next five games as well, including two tournament games.
March 23, 2014: With hope that Embiid will be able to return, the Jayhawks lose to the Stanford Cardinal in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
April 9, 2014: Embiid joins Wiggins and officially declares himself for the 2014 NBA Draft.
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