NBA Draft 2014: Joel Embiid Could End Up No. 1 Pick in 2014 Draft Over Andrew Wiggins

Kansas Jayhawks freshman Andrew Wiggins was an overwhelming favorite to end up the first overall pick in the stacked 2014 NBA Draft, but another Jayhawk could have his name called first in the highly-anticipated rookie selection in June.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford named Kansas freshman Joel Embiid as the potential top-overall pick in his latest Big Board after the 19-year-old center impressed NBA scouts with his wide skills set.

Wiggins was listed second, while Duke's Jabari Parker was projected to be picked third followed by Australian phenom Dante Exum, who recently declared for the upcoming draft.

Ford noted that several NBA general managers are already convinced Embiid should be the first overall pick in the 2014 Rookie Draft, which is expected to feature one of the deepest pools of rookie hopefuls since the draft that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in 2003.

"A few weeks ago, when we put Embiid atop our Big Board, it still seemed like a risky thing to do. Two weeks later, it's conventional wisdom. Within hours of putting out our last Big Board, more and more scouts and GMs began texting me with what I already expected to hear: Embiid is now the presumptive favorite to be the No. 1 pick. Long, athletic, 7-foot shot-blockers who score in multiple ways can be tough to find," Ford noted in his latest Big Board.

NBADraft.net and DraftExpress, two of the most extensive and most visited draft boards, agreed with Ford's assumption.

Embiid, who is averaging 11.4 points to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, was not even mentioned among the top five heading into the collegiate basketball season.

The Cameroonian center averaged just 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in his first two games with Kansas, but showed tremendous improvement since then, drawing comparisons to NBA legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon.

In the highly-anticipated showdown between Kansas and Oklahoma State earlier this month, all eyes were set on the duel between Wiggins and Marcus Smart, another No. 1 pick-worthy player.

But Embiid stole the spotlight as he almost posted a triple-double, racking up 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks to lead the Jayhawks to an 80-78 win over the Cowboys.