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Joel Embiid has emerged as one of the top freshmen in college basketball.

Embiid has only been playing basketball for a few years, but has remarkable instincts for the game.

Embiid has also been researching the college tenures of big men such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal. The common denominator with those three legendary bigs is that they each spent at least two seasons in college.

"I was curious because I want to be great, I want to be the best at my position one day," said Embiid. "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."

"He's the best," Bill Self said. "He wants to know everything. He's so naïve, in a very innocent way. Like certain guys can be naïve to the ways of the world, but he's naïve about everything -- what to eat, everything."

Via Dana O'Neil/ESPN

Welcome to the Lakers..

Embiid has the entire package, I fully expect him to be the top Center in the NBA in a few years.

so what he's saying is he's not going to declare for the draft this year?

Hope my pistons draft him. He can start at SG for us.

IMHO wrote:so what he's saying is he's not going to declare for the draft this year?

Pretty much what I got from that, or he's leaning towards returning to school.

impressive how he play ball for just a few years. You dont always have to start at young age to develop talent

God Squad wrote:

IMHO wrote:so what he's saying is he's not going to declare for the draft this year?

Pretty much what I got from that, or he's leaning towards returning to school.

Sometimes that may be a better option even if you are regarded as a top 5 picks - if he thinks he has room to grow before he enters the big league there is no better place for that that college ball. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders - hopefully he stays injury free and keeps working hard, a lot of NBA team could use a player like him.

Huskies_ wrote:impressive how he play ball for just a few years. You dont always have to start at young age to develop talent

Only if you're an athletic seven footer.

nikster wrote:

Huskies_ wrote:impressive how he play ball for just a few years. You dont always have to start at young age to develop talent

Only if you're an athletic seven footer.

ala Ryan Hollins

speaking of Ryan Hollins.

after half a season with Boston, he goes to Clippers, a year later, Doc Rivers joins him.

Suspicious? If i was the nba I'd look into this.

Biased_Fan6425 wrote:Welcome to the Lakers..

That would be a good place for him if he declares.

Idk y but players like him end up being like Hasheem Thabeet. Just started playing the game, dominate high school n college, become a lottery pick n then bust. I can be wrong but happens too often.

FreeBoosie wrote:Idk y but players like him end up being like Hasheem Thabeet. Just started playing the game, dominate high school n college, become a lottery pick n then bust. I can be wrong but happens too often.

Indeed you are wrong. Seemingly nobody actually watched Thabeet play in college, but he was slow, lumbering and quite awkward. Embiid has incredible fluidity to his game and that will serve him well in the NBA.

Fresh360Waves wrote:

Biased_Fan6425 wrote:Welcome to the Lakers..

That would be a good place for him if he declares.

Yeah maybe he could leave them after one year too.

Oh wait, rookie contracts.

Maybe he could take his talents to South Beach in FA.

samjones wrote:

Fresh360Waves wrote:

Biased_Fan6425 wrote:Welcome to the Lakers..

That would be a good place for him if he declares.

Yeah maybe he could leave them after one year too.

Oh wait, rookie contracts.

Maybe he could take his talents to South Beach in FA.

Haha what everyone wants to do these days but you can't blame them.