Top Ranked Recruits Harry Giles, Dennis Smith Jr. Could Join Tatum at Duke in Package Deal

After Duke landed their first commitment from the #2 ranked player in the 2016 recruiting class Jayson Tatum, a huge number of possibilities suddenly opened up for the Blue Devils in terms of recruiting and adding more top recruits to the future class.

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It’s been widely reported that Jayson Tatum and the #1 ranked 2016 recruit PF Harry Giles are very close friends and roomed together during USA Basketball tournaments. The two have discussed teaming up in college as a package deal similar to 2014 Blue Devil recruits Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, saying this about the former Blue Devils, “Seeing something like that, two great players [Jones and Okafor] team up along with Justise Winslow and other guys like that, they had one goal in mind and they accomplished it and had fun doing it. Who wouldn’t want to do that?”. Tatum is still interested in teaming up with Giles in college joined Duke because they would be able able to accommodate what both players want.

While Tatum wanted to make his commitment early, Giles plans to take more time to make his decision and will announce his decision in the fall after the NCAA basketball season starts. The Winston Salem, NC native has narrowed his list down to Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and his hometown school Wake Forest.

Tatum’s decision also affects 5-star prospect and top ’16 point guard Dennis Smith, Jr. Smith is also from North Carolina coming out of Fayetteville and has a great relationship with Tatum and Giles through international competition and AAU basketball. He is considering offers from Duke, NC State, UNC, and Louisville among others, but is also reportedly in on the Giles-Tatum package deal, stating back in December that they were seriously considering it:

"“We [Smith, Giles, and Tatum] talk about it about twice every month. They’re two great players, two of the top ranked players in the country, and they show it every time they play. It would definitely be a plus for me to play with those guys. We really do mean it whenever we say it. But we really haven’t put too much thought into it as of now. That is something that we are looking forward to talking more about next year.”"

Coach K and the Duke coaching staff have done a great job of recruiting the top players in the past few years, and will be looking to add the #1 ranked recruiting class in the nation for the third consecutive year. The verbal commitment of Jayson Tatum will have a huge impact on Duke recruiting for the 2016-2017 season and other top players in his class, whether or not Giles and Smith decide to join him on the Blue Devils.