When giving thanks today, don’t forget to send a little the way of the basketball gods for enabling you to watch potential superstar Joel Embiid play during his formative years. Shockingly, this is only his third year of organized basketball.

Embiid played more soccer and volleyball growing up and the soccer clearly contributed to his amazing footwork, so rare for a 7-footer. He moves his feet like a point guard and sees the floor like one too. Coach Bill Self listed Embiid, Frank Mason, Naadir Tharpe and Wayne Selden as the team’s four best passers.

Check out this feed of Andrew Wiggins in the Duke game:

And this find of hot-shooting Brannen Greene, again in the Duke game:

Against Towson in Allen Fieldhouse, Embiid showed he’s a quick study by applying his coach’s advice.

“I talked to coach Self and I had to watch Jeff Withey video tape and coach just told me to stay on the ground and not go for shot fakes, so that’s what I do,” Embiid said.

He also showed extraordinary ability throwing the outlet pass to teammates fast enough to run them down.

“I’d like to say I’ve been working with him on that, but I think it’s more instinctive,” Self said of the outlet passes. “He’s smart. He understands. He’s got feel. You know, he played with that AAU team with Chris Walker (Florida) and Brannen (Greene) and Kasey Hill (Florida). The only time he touched it was when he rebounded it, so he wanted to try to do something positive. He’s been doing that for a while.”

In the event you promised you wouldn’t watch KU basketball highlights at the Thanksgiving dinner table, we’ll leave the sound off for these highlights of Embiid blocking shots and throwing outlet passes against Towson. Just hide your iPhone under the table and keep your reactions to yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving.