Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon's capital Yaoundé on March 16, 1994 to Thomas and Christine Embiid. Joel's father was a military colonel and former African handball champion. His parents pushed him to get an education and play sports - primarily volleyball and soccer. Cameroon is renowned for producing some of the world's best athletes, and Embiid proved to be no exception.

Joel Embiid’s journey to becoming an NBA All-Star began in 2011 when he attended a basketball camp hosted by Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Joel, who had only ever played a few pick-up games of basketball before, was an impressive 6'9" at the time and had great footwork and physicality due to his experience playing soccer and volleyball. Despite his inexperience, Joel excelled at the camp and earned an invitation to Basketball Without Borders, a prestigious basketball camp held in Johannesburg, South Africa. At BWB, Joel proved himself against elite competition and further demonstrated his talent and potential as a future NBA All-Star.

Joel Embiid's family made the tough choice to send him from Africa to the USA in order to further his basketball career. Despite having no experience playing organized basketball, Joel impressed Luc Mbah a Moute at a camp and was invited to play for Montverde in Florida, Mbah a Moute's alma mater. His talent was obvious, but so was his potential if he continued to improve. Ultimately, this decision changed Joel's life forever, giving him opportunities and experiences he would never have had otherwise.

Joel, who was only 16 and knew next to no English, had a difficult time when he first started playing basketball in the USA. He was behind his teammates when it came to understanding the game, but he hardly let that intimidate him. Despite his challenges, Embiid was determined to improve, often seeking out extra instruction from his coach. Through hard work and dedication, he made significant strides over the course of the season and went from being a JV player, to being one of the top 10 college prospects.

Embiid was heavily pursued by Texas, Florida, and Kansas to play college ball. He inevitably chose to go with Kansas, as he felt they would best prepare him for the next step of his career. Joel wasted no time making an impact for the Jayhawks, impressing coaches and fans alike with his immense talent and ferocious playing style.

Today, Joel Embiid is one of the top players in the NBA and has been selected to multiple All-Star teams. His journey from Cameroon to the NBA is an inspiring one that demonstrates his incredible determination and work ethic. Whether you're a basketball fan or simply looking for an inspirational story, Joel Embiid is someone you need to know.