Joel Embiid 2013C

[Dawson Rental]

He'll be visiting Texas this weekend and Kansas for their version of midnight madness. UCLA will be there until the end as well.

I get that Buzz is a great recruiter and Joel worked out in Milwaukee with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, but at this point with all the big boys involved, it would be Buzz's greatest signing yet if he lands him.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute held a basketball camp in Cameroon where Embiid was discovered, and was instrumental in getting him to the United States, and probably with getting Embiid in touch with whoever trained him this summer in Milwaukee that's why he's called Embiid's mentor.

[brewcity77]

According to Dave Telep's article today in ESPN, he believes Embiid could finish the year as the top center in the country. That would mean a certain top-20 ranking and likely top-10. He also said that he may be a better prospect than either Brandon Ashley or Anthony Bennett, both of whom were consensus top-20 players. I have a feeling Joel Embiid may be the biggest prospect Buzz Williams has ever recruited.

Center Joel Embiid (Cameroon/The Rock) lost the final game of his junior season as his Montverde squad gave up 47 points in the final quarter and overtime in a heartbreaking loss to Findlay Prep at the National High School Invitational. Embiid, just months into his high school career, came off the bench and was tasked with slowing down the Brandon Ashley freight train. He couldn't as Ashley scored 25 points in the second half and fouled Embiid out of the game in what seemed like only a few possessions.

Montverde coach Kevin Boyle kept saying before the NHSI that Embiid was going to be good. However, at the time, the 6-foot-10 center appeared overmatched by Prep's frontcourt.

"Against Findlay, Brandon Ashley was good," Embiid said. "But if I played a game against him now, I would beat him. I was new. I didn't know how to guard the post. Now, I can guard centers or power forward."

In a short time, senior Joel Embiid has gone from a good volleyball player to one of the nation's best basketball recruits. Looking back on that day last March, no one would have predicted Embiid may have been the best big man prospect on the floor. UNLV's Anthony Bennett was there. Ashley was a monster and Embiid, well, he was a fawn in the woods. It just wasn't his time.

Now, in the fall of 2013, it's most definitely Embiid's time. The transformation from last March to October has been phenomenal. This is a 6-11 center with great length, fluid movement, natural shot-blocking instincts and an offensive game that is showing signs of life. Instead of panicking when double-teamed – something he did at times -- last season, Embiid consistently finds the open man. In actuality, last year there was hardly a need to double team him as he wasn't much of a factor due to his inexperience.

It's amazing to think that Embiid came to the States last October and played his first organized ball game in January. Back in Cameroon, he never watched a college game and NBA games came on at 2 a.m. "I touched the ball but I wasn't on teams or practicing or shooting," he said. "When I saw people play, I would take the ball and maybe shoot layups. I played soccer when I was young and I played volleyball for five years."

Embiid was tossed a basketball lifeline by fellow countryman and current NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The Milwaukee Buck saw him at one of his camps in Africa and then got Embiid involved with Basketball Beyond Borders. Mbah a Moute attended Montverde himself where he played for current George Washington assistant Kevin Sutton.

Think about this for a second. The sum total of Embiid's experience includes two camps in Africa, being schooled by Ashley and half a season at Montverde. Based off what I saw last weekend, it's conceivable that this young man could finish the year as the best center prospect in the country.

The one thing fueling Embiid's ascension this year – outside of his immense talent – is his confidence. Although to obtain it, he had to leave one of the best high school coaches in the country. The prospects of having to battle for consistent minutes in a frontcourt alongside Dakari Johnson and Devin Williams made his decision a bit easier.

"I left Montverde because I wanted to play a lot," Embiid said. "If I stayed at Montverde, I was going to play but not like I'm going to play at The Rock. Everybody told me I needed game experience. Now I'm confident and I like walking out into the arena and playing."

Embiid's English, much like his post game, is a work in progress but you get the picture. He knew Montverde's frontcourt was crowded and he needed game reps to unlock his potential. So far, Embiid's been correct. He got better right before our eyes during the Nike Team Florida Fall Workout last Saturday.

The natural tools are there plus he's an intelligent, diligent young man surrounded by coaches and sound guidance. There's a path for success laid out for him. His job is to continue working (he is), get better (he has) and commit himself to learning every day (he will).

College coaches have taken notice.

According to his high school coach Justin Harden, Embiid will visit Texas this weekend. "He's been saying it's a top choice and Texas was holding out a (visit) date," Harden said. The following weekend, Embiid will be in Lawrence for Kansas' Midnight Madness. Virginia will be his third trip on Oct. 19-20.

Marquette and Florida are also in the mix. Trust me, every big time program in the country will call this week. This kid's father is 6-6, mom is 6-2 and there's no other way to read this situation: Embiid is on the cusp of becoming an elite prospect.

Potential is a dangerous word that should be used with caution. But with Embiid, it's applicable. He's a newbie. Just a pup in this basketball world. Soon, that pup will have a bark and then a bite and eventually he's going to be quite the player.

"I want to make the NBA like Luc did and help people," Embiid said. "If I do, I'll take care of them and my family."

[Pakuni]

According to Dave Telep's article today in ESPN, he believes Embiid could finish the year as the top center in the country. That would mean a certain top-20 ranking and likely top-10. He also said that he may be a better prospect than either Brandon Ashley or Anthony Bennett, both of whom were consensus top-20 players. I have a feeling Joel Embiid may be the biggest prospect Buzz Williams has ever recruited.

Mitch McGary?
Regardless, Embiid may be ranked in the top 10/20, but he likely doesn't belong there. Kind of like how McGary rose from the latter half of the top 100 to #3 last year and eventually settled down in the mid 20s.

[brewcity77]

Mitch McGary?
Regardless, Embiid may be ranked in the top 10/20, but he likely doesn't belong there. Kind of like how McGary rose from the latter half of the top 100 to #3 last year and eventually settled down in the mid 20s.

Comparison may be apt, but the difference is Embiid just started playing the game. As Telep wrote, "The sum total of Embiid's experience includes two camps in Africa, being schooled by Ashley and half a season at Montverde." McGary was hardly new to the game.

Either way, I'm pretty sure he'll finish a lot higher than the 75-150 range he's currently in. Also, I meant to say that if he landed him, he would be the biggest prospect for Buzz. Misspoke (typed?) there. I think he'd be a bigger get than Cadougan or Blue.

[Bocephys]

According to Dave Telep's article today in ESPN, he believes Embiid could finish the year as the top center in the country. That would mean a certain top-20 ranking and likely top-10. He also said that he may be a better prospect than either Brandon Ashley or Anthony Bennett, both of whom were consensus top-20 players. I have a feeling Joel Embiid may be the biggest prospect Buzz Williams has ever recruited.

Didn't we make Quincy Miller's final list?

[brewcity77]

Didn't we make Quincy Miller's final list?

Final list, yes, but our hat wasn't on the podium. And as I said in the last post, I meant "if we land Embiid" he'd be Buzz's biggest get.

[real chili 83]

He'll be visiting Texas this weekend and Kansas for their version of midnight madness. UCLA will be there until the end as well.

I get that Buzz is a great recruiter and Joel worked out in Milwaukee with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, but at this point with all the big boys involved, it would be Buzz's greatest signing yet if he lands him.

Too bad we couldn't get him there for our MM.  Feels like a huge lost opportunity.  Ya, i know, it's Kansas.  But, ya, we're the WARRIORS!!!

[nyg]

MU's best shot is that Embiid wants Moute to be his mentor and that opportunity is in Milwaukee.

[dw3dw3dw3]

Hate to be negative... but that is our only chance.  I'm sure UK will come calling at some point, I believe they have a track record with late blooming big men.

[KenoshaWarrior]

This would be the biggest Get in...Well since forever as far as ratings are concerned

[Tugg Speedman]

MU's best shot is that Embiid wants Moute to be his mentor and that opportunity is in Milwaukee.

Seems like a good reason and my guess is part of the reason why Buzz got a in-house meeting last weekend.  So, discount this as some long shot reason as it might have gotten us this far already.

[GGGG]

This would be the biggest Get in...Well since forever as far as ratings are concerned

Burton, Wilson, Anderson, Williams, Blue...all ranked higher as far as ratings.

What would be nice is to recruit someone that looks like an actual, athletic center.

[Benny B]

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute held a basketball camp in Cameroon where Embiid was discovered, and was instrumental in getting him to the United States, and probably with getting Embiid in touch with whoever trained him this summer in Milwaukee that's why he's called Embiid's mentor.

Is it that, or could it be because Wisconsin is home to the largest beef jerky producer in the world?

[brewcity77]

Burton, Wilson, Anderson, Williams, Blue...all ranked higher as far as ratings.

I really don't think that'll still be the case come spring.

[4everwarriors]

Correction, the largest jerk moved to Indiana almost 5 years ago.

[leever]

Correction, the largest jerk moved to Indiana almost 5 years ago.

Chico's moved to Indiana?

[The Process]

Chico's moved to Indiana?

Beat me to the punch!

[Dawson Rental]

This would be the biggest Get in...Well since forever as far as ratings are concerned

Bernard Toone ranked number two in the country, I believe, in 1976.

In terms of pure talent, even if Embiid lives up to the hype, I not sure that you can rank him ahead of Jim Chones and maybe Lucas.

[martyconlonontherun]

Bernard Toone ranked number two in the country, I believe, in 1976.

In terms of pure talent, even if Embiid lives up to the hype, I not sure that you can rank him ahead of Jim Chones and maybe Lucas.

Wade?

[4everwarriors]

I think we can all safely agree that BT was overrated, or at the very least didn't perform to expectation.

[Goose]

I do not think BT was overrated but agree on under perform. One of my favorites from the day. Couple of big NCAA games made his career IMO. He really did have a ton of talent.

[Groin_pull]

Hate to be negative... but that is our only chance.  I'm sure UK will come calling at some point, I believe they have a track record with late blooming big men.


I wouldn't rush out to get that Emiid MU replica jersey.

[real chili 83]

Must of been why me and my spies didn't seem him at the Dallas airport yesterday. 

FYI...had bad flight from dfw.  Lost pressure.  O2 masks came out.  Emergency landing in tulsa. Electrical fire.  Smoke in cabin.  Glad to be back in scoopland   

Going to Milwaukee in 10 days on biz trip.  Driving.  Driving.

Real Chili. Mmmmmmm.

Sorry for the off topic post.

Heard from Delta today.  15k free miles.  I think I have some feedback for them.

[79Warrior]

I think we can all safely agree that BT was overrated, or at the very least didn't perform to expectation.

BT was a head case. dude loved to party.

[Dawson Rental]

Wade?

Boo Wade?  We missed on him.

When you look at the post I was responding to:

This would be the biggest Get in...Well since forever as far as ratings are concerned

As far as I know, Toone was the highest rated recruit ever to enroll at Marquette, being ranked as the second highest recruit in his class.  KenoshaWarrior was talking about ratings.

In my post:

Bernard Toone ranked number two in the country, I believe, in 1976.

In terms of pure talent, even if Embiid lives up to the hype, I not sure that you can rank him ahead of Jim Chones and maybe Lucas.

When I started comparing Embiid to other players in terms of talent, I was trying to compare him to other players who played in the post for an apple to apples comparison.