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FAMOUS BASKET BALL PLAYER
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 11/9/2019 11:37:54 AM
Joel Embiid
Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the 76ers. Multiple foot and knee injuries delayed his debut for two seasons until 2016–17, when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team despite playing only 31 games. Embiid has received two All-Star selections. He has nicknamed himself "The Process" in response to a refrain from 76ers fans during the Sam Hinkie era to "trust the process". Early life Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to military officer Thomas Embiid and his wife, Christine. He originally planned to play professional volleyball in Europe[ but started playing basketball at age 15, modeling his game after NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. Embiid was discovered at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow native of Yaounde and an NBA player. With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Embiid moved to the United States at age 16 to devote himself to becoming a professional basketball player. Embiid enrolled at Montverde Academy, Mbah a Moute's alma mater, but transferred after his first year due to a lack of playing time. He then attended The Rock School, a Christian academy, in Gainesville, Florida. As a senior, he led their team to a 33-4 record and state championship, averaging 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Embiid was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com and committed to Kansas in November 2012. College career Embiid attended the University of Kansas for one year. On 13 February 2014, he was named one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year. In 2013–14, he played 28 games, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game. He had over 15 points in seven games and over 5 blocks in six games. He subsequently earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named secondteam All-Big 12. Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his back in March 2014. He missed that year's Big 12 tournament and NCAA Tournament. Kansas lost in the third round.