NBA Draft Rumors 2014: Joel Embiid is 100%

In most drafts, former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid would likely be the runaway number one overall pick.

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However, with other top prospects like Embiid’s college teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and potentially Australian point guard Dante Exum coupled with Embiid’s back issues, he could see a slide.

Embiied did not player in the Big 12 Tournament or in either of the Jayhawks’ two NCAA Tournament games.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, Embiid says he is now 100%.

"Embiid also told me that his back was “100 percent” and that he was feeling no effects from his injury in March. That was confirmed by several sources who have been working with him in the gym the past few weeks. “If anything, I think they were overcautious with him,” one source said. “He could’ve played in the next round of the NCAA tournament had Kansas advanced. They were just making sure that the issue would completely go away. He’s fine……Embiid told me that he gained roughly 20 pounds the past two months, though he had lost five in the past three weeks since he began working out again. In his case, that’s a good thing. Teams were worried that Embiid, at 250, was a little too light to play the post. The extra 15 pounds seems to have mostly gone to his butt and thighs, exactly were teams want it to go to help him create space and hold his position in the post."

Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.4 assists per game last season.

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