After a disappointing season at Duke, Harry Giles is looking to prove that his freshman year was an anomaly and cash in on his immense talent.
Last season, Harry Giles headlined the Duke Blue Devils’ recruiting class. He was the number one ranked prospect on ESPN’s 100 and was expected to become a star.
Sadly for Duke fans, Giles was hampered with injuries and did not see much playing time. Due to his lingering problems, Giles’ draft stock plummeted. Once considered as a top selection in this year’s draft, he may be an option for the Orlando Magic when they pick at number 25.
Not only did Giles have health issues at Duke, his injury history is well-documented. He has already torn both of his ACLs and he is not even 20 years old yet.
With the help of modern technology, NBA teams have more information about a player’s health than ever. Teams have been doing their due diligence on Giles and it may cause some to shy away from him.
While other teams may take a gamble on his pure talent — there was a reason Giles was the number one recruit coming out of high school. He has the physical tools and skills to become a star.
If the Magic are willing to take a risk, Giles is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect.
The Good
Potential.
Yes, potential is far from a guarantee. But it is not often a number one high school recruit will be on the board at pick number 25.
Giles has been coveted since his early high school playing days. College scouts have plenty of evidence and data that show how good he can be when he is healthy. According to DraftExpress, Giles has very impressive career numbers even with his injury troubles of late. He has averaged 23 points and 16 rebounds per 40 minutes in his career.
Aside from injuries, Giles fits the bill physically. He stands just shorter than seven-feet tall and has an insane 7-foot-3 wingspan. Giles has the length to size to play center in the NBA.
Offensively, Giles uses his athleticism to score points. His length and athleticism allow him to blow past defenders and get to the rim. He mainly scored when cutting to the basket and showed that he can be a threat in the pick-and-roll.
Giles has strong intangibles. He plays with extreme effort and uses it in all phases of the game. On the glass, he wills himself to get rebounds. And on offense, he regularly scores second chance points.
On the defensive side of the ball, Giles can become a very good defender on the NBA level. If his body begins to fill out, he can be a factor in the paint against NBA centers. For now, his length and athleticism will allow him to handle power forwards and even some guards on switches.
The Bad
A lengthy injury history is what has caused Giles to slip well into the first round.
When a player tears both of his ACLs before his NBA career even begins, the injury prone label will be thrown out there.
Of course, the injuries are Giles’ biggest concern as a prospect, he does have some questions about how his offensive game will fair at the next level.
Right now, Giles does not have any face-up game. He is not a threat to take a mid-range jumper to catch the defense off guard. Down the road that could be a nice addition for a player with his athletic gifts.
Also, Giles lacks a go-to post-up move. He is not crafty and seems unsure what to do when the ball is in his hands with his back to the basket. Early on in his career, he will be relying on his physical tools to score. Which is not a consistent option in the NBA. He has plenty of work to do on the offensive end.
Again, his defensive game is probably his best asset, but he needs to work on his footwork and awareness on that side of the ball. At Duke, he seemed a step behind the rest of his teammates. He was not in the right place and it allowed the other team to flourish offensively.
Due to spending so much time on the pine, Giles needs to work on his fundamentals. It appears he has fallen behind and will need to work on rotations and being in the correct position on both sides of the ball.
When looking at all of Giles’ weaknesses, they all come back to his long injury history. He missed so much time that it has hindered his development.
Draft Sites Say
Jonathan Givony & Mike Schmitz, DraftExpress
"Regardless of whether or not his athleticism reverts back to what it once was, Giles has outstanding measurements that should allow him to play the center position with ease if he can find a way to put more bulk on his promising frame. Even without the same quick-twitch and powerful explosiveness that he showcased early on in his career, he’s still an agile athlete who is light on his feet and mobile running the floor. There is a distinct possibility that he’ll be able to shed the rust he was noticeably saddled with at Duke, and undoubtedly caused him to lose a step, which would elevate him into a different tier of prospect."
Clayton Crowe, NBADraft.net
"Giles is an extremely gifted athlete, arguably the best big man prospect in this entire draft when healthy, something he hasn’t been in quite a while … Looks the part of an NBA big man with his frame … An explosive leaper even with the injuries to his knees. . . . Multiple knee surgeries including two ACL tears (both knees) and an MCL tear (left) before graduating high school is a huge question mark with regards to the outlook of Giles’ career. No team wants to draft the next Greg Oden and players with injury histories like that of Giles always raise red flags to scouts and GM’s who are putting their jobs on the line with every draft pick and free agent signing … His ability to explode with contact seemed affected … As far as Giles’ looks on the court, he seemed to get lost at times during his freshman season and was almost afraid to do certain things."
Trevor Magnotti, The Step Back
"It’s not a stretch to say Harry Giles had the worst college basketball season of any player in the 2017 NBA Draft pool. The Duke forward entered the season as a top-10 recruit in college basketball, and there was plenty of reason to believe he was going to be Duke’s best player this year. He debuted at fourth on our first big board of the year, and there were outlets who considered him for the top-3. Giles entered college with impressive physical tools and a resume of solid production in high school events, and despite a history of ACL tears in both knees, looked the part of a high-motor big who could be a sort of “Blake Griffin at the 5” player."
The Final Word
Harry Giles has had some terrible injury luck of late. For a player who has been on the NBA’s radar since his early teens, he has hit a major bump in the road.
Still, he has the talent and potential to be a first-round selection. If Orlando’s doctors and training staff believe he can handle the NBA schedule, the team should target him.
Hopefully, the young player can get over the hump and work on getting back to 100 percent. After that, he will need to begin to catch up and make up for all the time that he has missed of late. Taking it slow and allowing him to gain confidence may be key for his long-term success.
The one thing that should give everyone hope for Giles is his pure willingness to succeed. He may not have been able to physically, but Giles gives his all on every play. If that translates during practice and in the gym, he should be back to his old self in no time.
Now, Giles is going to be a long-term project. But that is the case with the majority of the players at this position.
Plus, Orlando is a nice location for a young center. He will get to learn from two veterans in Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo. Along with head coach Frank Vogel who has a history of developing centers on the defensive end.
Next: Orlando Magic Daily 2017 NBA Draft Big Board
Hopefully, Giles can remain healthy and have a productive career as a towering big man in the NBA. He has the tools and willingness, but injuries are the downfall of many careers.