CHICAGO -- Nearly two years after being drafted, Joel Embiid still is an enigmatic player. The 2014 third overall pick has yet to play a NBA game because of injuries. Most of what is known about of his game comes from videos of his workout routines and he exudes his personality through social media posts.
But Wayne Selden has a unique perspective of Embiid: they were roommates at the University of Kansas.
"That's my guy," Selden, a junior guard, said Friday at the NBA Draft Combine. "He's fun to be around. I really enjoyed him."
While there is still much to be discovered on who Embiid is as an NBA player, he has been praised for being a fast learner. Selden echoed that assessment, recalling days in college when Embiid put his memory to action on the court.
"He had a big TV," Selden said. "I'd go in his room and he'd be watching YouTube videos of Hakeem Olajuwon. He would go out there and just do it the next day in practice or the game. He really picked up well on things like that."
Selden can relate to Embiid on the injury level. He underwent surgery for a meniscus tear and did not participate in on-the-court drills during the combine this week.
Selden and Embiid, who left Kansas after his first season, talk frequently. Selden spoke of Embiid's hard work to get healthy to play again.
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"Joel is young," Selden said. "He hadn't really faced any adversity, so it was kind of tough for him at first. But from my knowledge, he's doing all the things to get to that next level."
Embiid isn't the only member of the Sixers Selden knows well. He also was prep school teammates with Nerlens Noel at Tilton School in New Hampshire and they played AAU basketball together in Massachusetts.
"His length and athleticism, his ability to block shots were tremendous, especially at a young age," Selden said of Noel.
