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Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Joel Embiid announces he will enter the 2014 NBA draft at a press conference in Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday. Embiid is the second Kansas freshman to enter the draft this season.
BROOK BARNES/KANSAN
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A CHOICE OF CONSCIENCE
Stav or NBA: Joel Embiid declares for draft, guaranteed top five pick
BLAKE SCHUSTER
sports@kansan.com
Moments after Joel Embiid declared for the NBA draft, Kansas coach Bill Seli took a minute to explain the circumstances.
"He wanted to come back," Self said. "If college was paying him five million a year, and the NBA was paying five million a year, there's no question what he would've done."
So Embiid made what Self called the "safe play," not that the other side didn't weigh on him.
It took weeks of Embid gathering information: talking to his family, his coaches and
his mentor, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute — an NBA veteran and fellow Cameroon native — before deciding.
It took days of fans begging Embiid to stay on Twitter and even more time with the teammates he would be leaving behind until his thoughts clicked.
It took a phone call from Embiid's idol, NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, to help the freshman come to a conclusion. Although, that might not really have helped. Embiid said he was so excited to talk to Olajuwon he doesn't even remember what they talked about.
Really, it took the reality
of Embidid's development as a player and what the NBA could do for him.
By last Sunday, the decision was made, whether or not there was a better option.
"At this rate he improved.
If something happened next year, it wouldn't weigh on Self's conscious. A week after seeing Andrew Wiggins off to the NBA draft, Self put on the same wholesome smile for
year?"
"I want to be remembered as a guy who gave everything while playing.I just wanted to win."
JOEL EMBIID Kansas center
over a short period of time, just think about what you could be at a year from now," Self said. "The whole thing is a top five pick is guaranteed. What if something bad happens next
And Embid did his best to give his Kansas legacy the closure it needed.
Embiid and wished him well.
"I really love this place," Embiid said. "The fans are
crazy. It means a lot. They've showed me nothing but love. I'll miss this place."
During the season, this wasn't a day Embid allowed himself to think about. While the hype and rumors grew, Embiid stayed focused.
It's what allowed him to go from a back up, to a starter, to an invaluable asset, finishing the season with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
game.
"I want to be remembered as a guy who gave everything while playing," Embib said. "I just wanted to win."
But once the season was over, Embiid worried about something else. He worried
rie worried he was letting everyone down if he left.
about the fans, and the teammates and the town he called home for the past year.
"We told him all along if he leaves that won't make us mad," Self said. "You need to feel good about whatever decision you make. Don't look back."
Despite what Self called a feeling of incompleteness surrounding Emiiid's career at Kansas, there was no more time to change it.
"The financial opportunity is too great."
Edited by Krista Montgomery
CAMPUS
Big Event expected to draw 3,000 volunteers
West Middle School
2700 Harvard Road
15 volunteers requested
Volunteers will help prepare the school's gardens for the upcoming growing season by moving mulch and planting berry bushes and a fruit tree. Volunteers will also work with some of the school's middle school students who take care of the garden.
"The garden grows food for the cateraetia," said Nancy O'Connor, the project director. "Over two tons of produce has been grown over the last four years of the garden project."
Hiltop Child Development Center
1605 Irving Hill Road
912-843-3888 www.hiltopcenter.org
"（That many people) will help us save days' worth of work by our staff and parent volunteers," said Mike Pisant, the lead teacher at Hilltop.
**Volunteers requested**
Volunteers will repaint the playground equipment as well as replace the sand in the sandboxes.
Hilltop Child Development-Center is among many places where Big Event participants can sign up to volunteer. Volunteers at Hilltop can expect to replace sand in sandboxes and repaint playground equipment.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Common Ground Community Garden
200 N. Seventh Street
12 volunteers requested
Volunteers will prepare the soil for the upcoming growth season. The community garden has donated more than 2,000 pounds of produce to local food patries, according to the Common Ground program's website.
"It's nice for these college-aged students to descend on the garden like locusts and help out," said Aimee Polson, a coordinator for the Common Ground Community Garden.
BRENDAN O'FARRELL news@kansan.com
Students will meet at the Ambler Student Recreation Center parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for registration. Volunteer activities will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., although some jobs might be completed earlier. Though the official deadline to sign up for the event was March 2, those who missed the deadline can still call 785-864-7469 to register.
"It's our way of saying thank you to the citizens of Lawrence," said Alex Null, a 2013 graduate from Altus, Okla., who helped organize the program.
The fourth annual Big Event this Saturday is shaping up to be the biggest yet with 3,000 KU volunteers and 370 job sites.
CLASSIFIEDS 2B CRYPTOQUIPS 5A SPORTS 1B
CROSSWORD 5A OPINION 4A SUDOKU 5A
Michael Garrett, executive director of the Big Event and a junior from Lenexa, said volunteers who have participated in past years should notice improvements, particularly in how student groups are paired with job
for more information check out their website at http:// thebigeventku.com.
— Edited by Brook Barnes and Paige Lytle
Last year's event drew 2,800 volunteers and 350 community sites, Garrett said. The Big Event was started at Texas A&M as a way for students to show gratitude to the community. Currently, there are 68 participating universities.
"It's already the biggest community service day in Lawrence, and I hope it's an event that students and the Lawrence community look forward to each year," Garrett said.
Don't Forget
sites. This year, student groups have been matched more effectively to the different job sites based on the number of volunteers each job site requires. The work will include spring cleaning, raking leaves, painting, yard work and repairs to private homes, nonprofit businesses, schools and churches.
All cor_ents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
Dalton Kingery
Keary said University police are unable to release any further information at this time.
Partly cloudy. 20 percent chance of rain. Wind N at 17 mph.
To take time for you today.
Major Chris Keary, assistant chief of police with the KU Public Safety Office, said that a 19-year-old female student reported being raped by a male acquaintance, also 19 years old, in her room at GSP between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Today's Weather
After an investigation, the suspect was arrested by University police shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday on the 1500 block of Crestline Drive.
The victim was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital but did not receive treatment for any injuries.
Early Wednesday morning a University student was arrested on suspicion of raping another student Tuesday afternoon inside Gertrude Sellards Pearson residence hall.
CRIME Student arrested on suspicion of GSP rape
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HI: 70
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Cloudy man.
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