Imagine if Andrew Wiggins had chosen Kentucky instead of Kansas?
The Wildcats would be bigger favorites to win the 2014 NCAA title than the Miami Heat are to win the 2013 NBA title.
But the player expected to be the first overall selection of the 2014 NBA draft went with the Jayhawks, who are losing all five starters from last year’s team. (We’ve got Ben McLemore of Kansas atop our latest Mock Draft. Check it out.)
Wiggins joins a recruiting class that was already ranked No. 2 nationally by most recruiting services and includes five-star prospects Wayne Selden and Joel Embiid.
A 6-foot-7 forward from Huntington Prep in West Virginia, Wiggins has been called the next LeBron James, though coach Bill Self said he reminds him more of Tracy McGrady.
“Obviously, everyone in Jayhawk-land is overwhelmed and excited today,” Kansas coach Bill Self said in a statement. “This was a pleasant surprise because we never had an idea which way he was leading. Andrew did this the exact way he said he was going to. He played his cards very close to his vest as did his mother and father. I knew we were one of four. The competition was very stiff and we were fortunate that we were able to ink him today. He’s a tremendous talent and a terrific kid. Probably an even better kid than he is a talent. We think he has a chance to be about as good a prospect as we’ve ever had.”
“He brings athleticism, length, scoring ability and he’s also an assassin, an alpha dog and we definitely need that when you have a whole bunch of young kids,” Self said. “I think he’s going to be not just a good player, but have the chance to be a great one. I know the people that support our program are going to be pleasantly surprised when they see him run and play the very first time he gets the opportunity.”
So does this make Kansas the favorite?
Hell, no. Not with the class John Calipari has put together at Kentucky, detailed here by our Adam Zagoria.
But the Jayhawks are close — the second favorite at 11-2.
After the jump are the NCAA title odds on all the primary contenders, from bovada.lv.
Kentucky 5/1
Kansas 11/2
Louisville 17/2
Michigan State 12/1
Duke 14/1
Arizona 15/1
North Carolina 16/1
Florida 18/1
Ohio State 20/1
Syracuse 25/1
Connecticut 33/1
Indiana 33/1
Memphis 33/1
Michigan 33/1
Colorado 40/1
UCLA 40/1
Baylor 50/1
Creighton 50/1
Georgetown 50/1
Gonzaga 50/1
Iowa 50/1
Marquette 50/1
Missouri 50/1
NC State 50/1
New Mexico 50/1
Oklahoma State 50/1
Pittsburgh 50/1
St. Louis 50/1
VCU 50/1
Wisconsin 50/1
Butler 66/1
Illinois 66/1
Minnesota 66/1
St. John’s 66/1
Tennessee 66/1
UNLV 66/1
Villanova 66/1
Virginia 66/1
Wichita State 66/1
Florida State 75/1
Notre Dame 75/1
Alabama 100/1
Arizona State 100/1
BYU 100/1
California 100/1
Cincinnati 100/1
Iowa State 100/1
Kansas State 100/1
Miami Florida 100/1
Ole Miss 100/1
Oregon 100/1
Purdue 100/1
San Diego State 100/1
Stanford 100/1
Texas 100/1
Vanderbilt 100/1
West Virginia 100/1
Arkansas 150/1
Boise State 150/1
Colorado State 150/1
Dayton 150/1
St. Mary’s 150/1
Temple 150/1
USC 150/1
LSU 150/1
Georgia 200/1
Georgia Tech 200/1
Harvard 200/1
Maryland 200/1
Oklahoma 200/1
Texas A&M 200/1
Washington 200/1
Washington State 200/1
Xavier 200/1
Clemson 250/1
Davidson 250/1
South Carolina 250/1
St. Joe’s 250/1
Virginia Tech 250/1
Wake Forest 250/1
Boston College 500/1
Northwestern 500/1
Mississippi State 500/1