Joel Embiid is the best player I have coached-Kansas coach

"I thought that he would be the No. 1 pick," Self said of Embiid. "But I thought it would take two years. I thought his upside and his natural ability was off the charts and his ceiling is so high.

He did very well and he's coming out with two other guys who are potentially No. 1 type picks.

"Joel's a terrific talent, great kid. He's only played basketball for three years but his IQ is off the charts, he understands the game and can make other guys better. He's the guy out of the group who has more to go towards his ceiling because he's only played three years."

As a freshman at Kansas Embiid averaged 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds. However, he suffered a back injury that has raised some eyebrows about taking Embiid first.

An injury that Self doesn't believe should concern NBA executives.

"I would have worries if the doctors and the experts said there should be worry," Self admitted. "But he got a stress fracture in an area that all offensive linemen get and play with and ten percent of every student athlete has the potential of walking on campus with this injury.

"His back that will create zero problems for him. Those issues are all gone. I've watched all of his workouts on Youtube and he looks fine to me."