A Close Look in at Harry Giles - The Epitome of an X-Factor
After all of the hype that Harry Giles III had coming out of high school, the college basketball was largely disappointed by his production as a Duke Blue Devil. In the projected 2017 NBA Draft, Giles' draft stock has fallen and he is considered a major risk by several NBA executives. While that may be the impression of this kid, I will put my bet on Giles getting into a form that is significant enough to be a X-Factor for a NBA team. There is a reason why his college teammates, Amile Jefferson and Grayson Allen, raved about him in at a press conference during March Madness.
The kid's past with ACL injuries has to be a concern for all 30 NBA teams but at the same time, his potential as one of the most versatile big men in the 2017 NBA Draft cannot be ignored. If the NBA scouts watched Harry Giles III closely in the 2017 ACC tournament, they had to have liked what they saw. For the first time in the 2016-2017 season, no college basketball fan could deny the forward of his contributions to Coach K's team (not even UNC fans). In the team's four consecutive wins in four consecutive days, Giles III had at least one block in three of the four contests and never shot below 50% from the field in any of the four games. In particular, his six points, seven rebounds, and four blocks against North Carolina were huge.
In the Duke Blue Devils' comeback win over UNC in the 2017 ACC Tournament, Giles III landed an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Grayson Allen that led to the team's semifinal win. After this win, Giles said, "It's basketball... It's the game I love, so [I] just go out there and have some fun." I could not have said it any better myself. My best advice for opposing players is do not jump if Giles is going up for a dunk. Throughout his 2016-2017 campaign, the Winston-Salem, NC native filled up his highlight reel with dunks and blocks. While averaging just 11.5 minutes per game, he averaged 0.7 blocks per game.
The bottom line is that Giles' scoring production did not line up with his original projections coming out of high school due to his injury, as well as his lack of playing time. No basketball player can score points if they are not on the basketball court. Moreover, the fact that Giles III is projected as a late first-round NBA draft pick, based on his potential as a basketball player, is an accomplishment in and of itself. Given the right situation at the professional level, Harry Giles III will be a serious X-factor for whichever NBA team lands him at the conclusion of the 2017 NBA Draft.
If natural ability trumps an entire collegiate track record, then we will be seeing Harry Giles roaring and screaming all over the NBA.
