With the Big 12 Tournament and March Madness approaching, Kansas fans are gearing up and hoping to win big. But freshman center Joel Embiid’s back injury may take Kansas basketball out of the running for any championships.

Originally a soccer and volleyball player the 7-foot native of Cameroon has only been playing basketball for three years. Yet, until this injurly,  he has proven himself to be one of the top players on the University of Kansas basketball squad and in the country.

Although his teammate Andrew Wiggins was the number one recruit in the country, Embiid has outshone the star player and proved his potential in the sport. There is talk in the NBA world that this could be Embiid’s only year on the KU basketball team and he might be the number one draft pick in June. I, on the other hand, think differently.

According to SportingNews.com, when Embiid first started playing basketball in Cameroon, his coach gave him videos of Hakeem Olajuwon to watch after practice. Embiid began watching the video every day. He studied Olajuwon’s every move, his footwork, and the way he played the game. Olajuwon moved from Nigeria to the U.S. and became one of the most well known centers. Embiid idolized Olajuwon and thought if he could just make it to the U.S., he would follow in his footsteps.  Embiid has also said multiple times that the centers he looks up to played college basketball for at least three years. Because of that statement, I believe that Embiid will continue to play for KU basketball and become an even stronger player.

Ben McLemore, Josh Selbey, and Xavier Henry are just a few names of KU basketball players that left after one year on the team. Even though there was huge talk about them prior to college basketball season and during the season they proved themselves to be extremely talented and live up to the hype, what do you hear about them now? If you are not an avid KU basketball fan like myself, you do not hear anything. I do not want Embiid to join the list of forgotten KU basketball stars.

In 2009, KU celebrated its third National Championship title, and current coach, Bill Self’s first. KU had one of the strongest teams on the bracket. Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins, Sasha Kaun, Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and others moved on to play professionally around the world and for some of the best NBA teams.

I have been patiently waiting for KU to build up another championship team. If Embiid stays, he along with current teammates Frank Mason, Brennen Greene, Wayne Selden Jr., Jamari Traylor, Conner Frankamp and future Jayhawk recruits, can build a National Championship caliber team.

Embiid still has techniques that he needs to improve such as foot work and dribbling with his left hand. But, every time he dunks or blocks a shot, I cannot help but get the chills. If Embiid stays with KU basketball he will lead the team to a victory, no doubt about it.