Andrew Wiggins is all anyone can talk about and the high school graduate has yet to play a minute of college basketball. However, that is not stopping NBA "experts" from projecting him as the No. 1 overall draft pick and the second coming of some of the NBA greats. Currently set to play likely one season of college basketball at the University of Kansas, Wiggins is asking for the LeBron James and Kevin Durant comparisons to stop.
Wiggins is the center of some insane hype. The forward is being called a game changer. He is being looked at as a player that could turn a franchise, one to build around. Some say he is just a younger Tracy McGrady. Remember, the kid has not played anything other than high school ball. Because of that, Wiggins is trying to call the hype down a little bit.
"I've got a long way to go before I can be compared to LeBron and Durant," Wiggins said, via ESPN.com on Big 12 media days. "Those are the best players in the world right now and I'm still in college. So I think it's really unfair to compare me to someone of that caliber. Hopefully one day I can be compared to them, but I think I still have a long way to go before I can be."
It is only natural that Wiggins gets compared to the likes of James and Durant. He was the top college recruit and plenty of general managers believe he will be the best young player to enter the league since around 2007. Kansas head coach Bill Self is trying to eliminate distractions around his star athlete and temper the expectations a little bit.
"Well, he hasn't asked for any of it," Self said. "If you talk to him, he's humble and a low key guy that deflects attention as much as anybody I've been around. But when you hear those things, it's not fair. ... He's just Andrew."
Certain other players are simply laughing at the hype surrounding Wiggins. Oklahoma State sophomore Marcus Smart believes that Wiggins should prove he is the best before others call him the best in the league.
"A lot of people are saying he's the best player now in college basketball," Smart said. "All I'm saying is how can you be the best player in something you haven't even played yet?"
Smart certainly has a point. The spotlight around Wiggins will only continue to grow. Adidas has reportedly already offered the freshman a monster-size contract. As the college basketball season approaches, time will tell if Wiggins is worth the hype.