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Many of the media members that went to Kansas' open practice thought that Embiid was the most impressive player there and compared him to Hakeem and Duncan.

Jeff Goodman wrote:If you didn't know better and attended practice yesterday, you'd have thought Kansas freshman Joel Embiid was projected No. 1 pick.

Jason King wrote:Watched KU's 3-hour practice today. And all I can say is ... "Joel Embiid ... holy moly! Had no idea he was THAT good. Potential No. 1 pick"

Mike DeCourcy wrote:Well, say hello to Joel Embiid, a 7-0 native of Cameroon who played high school ball in Florida. He owns physical gifts that call to mind Hakeem Olajuwon and basketball skills reminiscent of Tim Duncan. Embiid has great feet, jumps well, handles the ball like a skilled forward and fires perimeter jumpers with comfort and ease. When he learns how to apply all this, when he comes to terms with how truly talented he is--in the way Olajuwon did after a year with the Houston Cougars--Embiid will be a basketball monster.

So...What's his game like?

He definitely impressed me in the NHS, he has all the tools it seems.

Love him. I've been saying all along, by the end of the year, there is no way Joel Embiid doesn't go in the top 3. 7 footers that move like him, don't grow on trees, and he hasn't even played that much basketball.

raw. with great tools. he doesn't really have a game to describe. athletic, long arms, huge hands, solid base. springy (former volleyball player) and coordinated. natural footwork that stems from his soccer background, but lateral quickness is just ok. shows decent form on his jumper and isnt afraid to pull the trigger, but he's not a great shooter yet. doesn't seem to understand his offensive limitations and will even pull up from college 3. has the tools to be a defensive force, but was far from a defensive force in hs.

all that i've read during the preseason is that he has shown flashes but is being thoroughly outplayed by tarik black for the center position. he's probably been the 3rd, maybe 4th best big on the team so far this preseason. having said that, he still has lotto, 1 and done potential even in the likelihood that he doesn't start (i HIGHLY doubt he'll start). his tools could just be too good to pass up on, kinda like steven adams who i think was ahead of embiid by quite a bit at the same stage.

major project, with high boom or bust potential.

Raw is the key word. Shows incredible potential not just with physical tools but high skill level potential. Already shows good form on shot and post moves. Needs to understand game more which comes with more coaching and game repetition. Thinks too much right now and doesn't understand when to and not to do some things such as not putting the ball on the ground when he could just straight up for a lay up or knowing when he can and cannot block a shot or get a rebound in order to stay out of foul trouble. Needs to realize he's a C and not a guard at times.

Many scouts have said he just oozes potential and if he shows progression by the end of the season he'll be a definite top 5 pick and many feel if he returns for his sophomore year and learns more under Self he could run away with the #1 pick in 2015.

He's not a pro athlete, he needs to work his body. Right now he's maple-syrup slow and almost tender with the ball. His touch and footwork are nice, but he won't be able to use them if he can't keep up with the improved talent.

Big_C_KU wrote:Raw is the key word. Shows incredible potential not just with physical tools but high skill level potential. Already shows good form on shot and post moves. Needs to understand game more which comes with more coaching and game repetition. Thinks too much right now and doesn't understand when to and not to do some things such as not putting the ball on the ground when he could just straight up for a lay up or knowing when he can and cannot block a shot or get a rebound in order to stay out of foul trouble. Needs to realize he's a C and not a guard at times.

Many scouts have said he just oozes potential and if he shows progression by the end of the season he'll be a definite top 5 pick and many feel if he returns for his sophomore year and learns more under Self he could run away with the #1 pick in 2015.

If he is a top 5 pick, Bill Self should tell him to go. He can develop in the NBA, the risk of injury is too great not to get paid millions. Self needs to do what is best for the kid, even though selfishly he would love to have him back.

winstoned wrote:If he is a top 5 pick, Bill Self should tell him to go. He can develop in the NBA, the risk of injury is too great not to get paid millions. Self needs to do what is best for the kid, even though selfishly he would love to have him back.

winstoned wrote:

Big_C_KU wrote:Raw is the key word. Shows incredible potential not just with physical tools but high skill level potential. Already shows good form on shot and post moves. Needs to understand game more which comes with more coaching and game repetition. Thinks too much right now and doesn't understand when to and not to do some things such as not putting the ball on the ground when he could just straight up for a lay up or knowing when he can and cannot block a shot or get a rebound in order to stay out of foul trouble. Needs to realize he's a C and not a guard at times.

Many scouts have said he just oozes potential and if he shows progression by the end of the season he'll be a definite top 5 pick and many feel if he returns for his sophomore year and learns more under Self he could run away with the #1 pick in 2015.

If he is a top 5 pick, Bill Self should tell him to go. He can develop in the NBA, the risk of injury is too great not to get paid millions. Self needs to do what is best for the kid, even though selfishly he would love to have him back.

I think Self will push Embiid to declare if he is top 5 because KU is probably just going to reload with 2 of Cliff Alexander, Myles Turner, and Jahlil Okafor.

Tave wrote:He's not a pro athlete, he needs to work his body. Right now he's maple-syrup slow and almost tender with the ball. His touch and footwork are nice, but he won't be able to use them if he can't keep up with the improved talent.

In the limited clips I've seen this seems more accurate than his written reputation, which made him some like a physical freak pogo stick with raw awareness and skills. To me he looks like the opposite. Very natural feel and clearly can develop into a skill player, but is he athletic enough to be a star?

Haven't seen enough of Embiid, but I like what I've seen so far. Is a Drummond comparison too far off the mark?

Biz Gilwalker wrote:Haven't seen enough of Embiid, but I like what I've seen so far. Is a Drummond comparison too far off the mark?

I don't think his game or body type resembles Drummond's, at all, but I could see him having similar impact after two or three years. I look at Embiid and see a taller HS version of Jermaine O'neil. He is fluid like Jermaine O'neil was in HS, but 7'0, instead of 6'10.

Fran Fraschilla, Myron Medcalf, and Jason King (basically all of the ESPN guys who went to Kansas' practice today) all tweeted that they were super impressed with Embiid again today and his skill level.

LloydFree wrote:Love him. I've been saying all along, by the end of the year, there is no way Joel Embiid doesn't go in the top 3. 7 footers that move like him, don't grow on trees, and he hasn't even played that much basketball.

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