Cue the haters.
Once again Duke basketball has landed the nation’s top prep player. Or maybe the second best player … there’s currently a debate on that as well. Either way, waves were made in the ocean of college basketball this past week as power forward Harry Giles III committed to the Blue Devils. Giles elected to join Coach K at Duke over Wake Forest, Kansas, and Kentucky.With his commitment, Duke has secured what many believe could not only be their strongest recruiting class in many years, but also the best in the nation.
As for the debate on the nation’s top prep player, Giles would probably be content with being told he’s the second best. Especially because the other player often cited is small forward Jayson Tatum. The two players became friends over the summer while playing for Team USA in the FIBA Under 19 World Championship. For a month, the two players were not only teammates but roommates and Giles has since called Tatum his “best friend.” So if the experts want to call Tatum the top player, that’s probably fine with Giles. We know for sure Coach K doesn’t care … both players are now committed to Duke’s 2016 recruiting class.
Here’s a quick breakdown on both players:
- Harry Giles III – from Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Giles is 6″10, 220 lbs, power forward who is considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com. Scouts notes his abilities on both ends of the court as a player who can score, rebound, and has “defensive versatility.” The biggest concern right now may be his health. Giles has had a couple of knee surgeries and will be sitting out the remainder of his senior season after suffering another knee injury this past week. SI has even speculated that if he can regain his form, Giles could be a one-and-done player as a sure fire NBA lottery pick in 2017. Before any of that happens, he’ll need to heal and rehab to be ready to run for the Blue Devils next year.
- Jayson Tatum – from St.Louis, Missouri. Tatum is a 6″8, 205 lbs, small forward who has a “smoothness” to his game that is undeniable according to Rivals.com. He is a talented scorer averaging better than 20 points and 8 rebounds per game. Of all top HS seniors, Tatum might be the most offensively polished at this point. He’s a wing that has soft touch on the midrange jumper and can play above the rim (see video below). He may need to bulk a little to play a the NBA level but he should be an immediate impact player for Duke next season.
Giles and Tatum might be the crown jewels in the 2016 recruiting class, they hardly represent the full basket. Frank Jackson (6″3, 180 lbs), is a point guard out of American Fork, Utah has also committed to Duke. He’s a top 20 recruit at vital position. Jackson is also a five-star talent who can handle basketball and command the floor. Javin DeLaurier (6″9, 215 lbs) is a power forward out of Charlottesville, Virginia and also part of the Duke class of 2016. DeLaurier is noted to have made great strides in his game over the past two seasons and plays with a “great motor” on both ends of the court.
Coming off their national title this past spring, maybe it shouldn’t be any surprise that Duke has recruited so well for the class of ’16. But with the possibility of several impact players jumping to the NBA after this season, these young recruits are likely to see a good deal of playing time right away. If they can play up to their potential, Coach K will continue that established tradition of winning in Durham.