NCAA News Wire
Kansas C Embiid heading to NBA
Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.
All posts by Alan DraperUpdated5 hours ago on April 25, 2024
Kansas freshman 7-footer Joel Embiid, considered one of the surprise newcomers in college basketball season, plans to enter the 2014 NBA Draft.
According to multiple reports, Embiid will make a formal announcement as soon as this weekend and he is in the process of selecting an agent.
The 20-year-old Cameroon native told The Sports Xchange in February he would weigh his options after the season and measure those against his development. NBA Draft experts consider Embiid, who has played organized basketball only three years, a top-three pick — and possibly No. 1 — if he decides to leave.
“I’m not even thinking about it right now,” Embiid said in Febraury. “I’ll make a decision after the season, but I’m definitely considering coming back to school.”
Embiid consider redshirting in 2013-14 but went on to average 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. His lone season in Lawrence ended prematurely because of a back injury that will be studied from all angles by NBA evaluators.
“He’s a bright young man and he’s going to weigh his options,” Kansas coach Bill Self said before the start of the NCAA Tournament. “He’s considering coming back and he’s obviously also considering leaving. He can’t make a bad decision.”
Self is also planning to lose freshman Andrew Wiggins, who was hailed as the nation’s top player coming out of high school. North Carolina State’s T.J. Warren and Indiana’s Noah Vonleh are leaving school early to enter the NBA draft and Duke’s Jabari Parker could join them.
