Dear NBA, Get Ready For An Infusion Of Elite Talent

Harry Giles, 6’11” 230, Power Forward, Oak Hill Academy (VA)

Giles is a freak of big man who fits coherently with the direction the NBA is heading towards. In particular, the Winston-Salem, NC, native is blessed with a tremendous physical profile measuring in at approximately 6’10.5″ in shoes, while housing a 7’3″ wingspan, and a standing reach of 9’1″.

In addition to his impressive length for a maturing 17-year-old, he is also an incredible athlete who combines amazing nimbleness, quickness, explosiveness and bounce. Not surprisingly, Giles is an absolute beast on the boards, as he was among the tournament/league leaders in both the U19 World Championships (10.6 rebounds per game) and the EYBL regular season (11.2 rebounds per game), often showcasing his innate sense of timing and intensity when crashing the glass.

Not only a physical marvel, Giles also possesses a feathery touch and gargantuan hands. Sure enough, he catches nearly everything thrown at him and has the ability to finish with either hand when operating within the tight confines of the paint.

Although he is still quite raw offensively, he has the framework of a bonafide inside-outside big. Most notably, he is incredibly aggressive off the catch, and often utilizes his explosive first step to blow by his lumbering counterparts in the high post. He also won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on his outside J. Most notably, he is surprisingly fluid handling the ball and pulling up on a dime.

Likewise, Giles has the tools and potential to evolve into a devastating post player. He is equipped with a strong base and good feel for the game. At present, he can already hit a running hook and a baby hook over both shoulders while using either hand. Additionally, he has a vast array of push shots and floaters when finishing around the rim.

Given his touch and athletic prowess, in conjunction with his unwavering aggressiveness, Giles accordingly finished third in the World Championships in points per 40 minutes, at 26.4.

Defensively, he’s similarly just as versatile. Namely, he has the length and bounce to serve as a rim protector, while encompassing the lateral quickness and wingspan to defend out in space and blow-up the occasional pick-and-roll.

Needless to say, Giles has the makings of a potential No. 1 pick. Over the next two years, however, Giles must work on his shot mechanics and the consistency of his jumper. Like most bigs with oversized hands, he is a below-average free throw shooter, converting on only 59 percent of his charity stripe attempts during the U19s.

Moreover, he must continue to refine his ball skills, from his handle to his back-to-the-basket game. He is currently very much limited to straight line drives with not much wiggle, change of direction, or pace. As such, he gives the ball away at quite the alarming rate; notably, tying for the team lead in turnovers per game (with Josh Jackson) during USA’s quest for gold this summer.

In particular, he struggles to pass out of collapsing doubles and hard digs, posting an anemic six percent assist rate during the aforementioned tournament. However, it should be noted he was playing against players nearly two years older than him.

With all that being said, with his combination of size, versatility, athleticism, and upside, barring a DeAndre Ayton reclassification (more on that later), Giles should be the top overall selection come June 2017. His intangibles and work ethic are traits worth noting, as well; battling and recovering back effectively from a catastrophic torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus injury during his sophomore season in high school.

Thus, when you add his character and will in conjunction to his natural talents, Giles seems to be on an impeded pathway to stardom.

Next: Josh Jackson