Portland Trail Blazers: 5 facts you should know about Harry Giles

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 11: Harry Giles III #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after forcing a turnover in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at Moda Center on December 11, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 11: Harry Giles III #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after forcing a turnover in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at Moda Center on December 11, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings Harry Giles
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Fact #2 – He was the number one recruit in the 2016 recruiting class

Giles was one of the most exciting and accomplished players in the country when he was in High School. Though RSCI rankings had him at number two, the all-important ESPN rankings had the five-star prospect at the top spot.

Giles had one of the most dominant High School careers in recent memory, sending college programs into a spin as they looked to recruit him.

In 2013 he was National Freshmen of the Year, Freshman All-American First-team, 2013 Greensboro All-Area First-team, and 2013 PACIS Player of the year and PACIS First-team.

He was named an All-American by Slam magazine in 2015 while also earning first-team All-EYBL honors. Giles then took his talents to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year of High School, but unfortunately missed this whole season with a torn ACL.

Giles was still named to the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit games, but could not take part due to his injury. He still had no fewer than 23 offers from some of the top Division one schools in the country.

Fact #3 – He committed to and then attended Duke University in 2016

Giles had offers from prestigious programs such as Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Wake Forest. He visited all five of the above schools before committing to Duke on the 17th of May 2016.

Although Giles was voted third on the preseason rookie of the year watchlist, he had to miss six weeks at the start of the College season as he recovered from the torn ACL he has suffered in the previous season.

He eventually made his debut, though, on the 26th of December 2016, playing a small role throughout the season as he worked his way back from injury. Giles didn’t contribute the way he would have liked at Duke, averaging just 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in just 11.5 minutes a game.

Giles still announced that he was declaring for the 2017 draft.