Duke basketball freshmen who would have benefitted from second year
434. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2017-18. Harry Giles. 4. player. PPG: 3.9, RPG: 3.8, BPG: 0.3, FG: 57.7%
Harry Giles was in a very tough predicament coming into and out of Duke
The top-rated high school recruit was rehabbing an ACL injury entering Durham, and that injury hampered his return to the court during his time as a Blue Devil.
Giles showed flashes of what he once was on the court, and his potential carried him into being a first-round selection in the 2018 NBA Draft.
However, the power forward used his first year in the NBA as a “redshirt season” and did not play at all for Sacramento, but averaged 7.0 points per game in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, playing in 58 and 38 games, respectively.
ALSO READ: NCAA cost Duke players $1.3 million last season
The tough spot Giles was in is that he could not guarantee his knee to be fully healthy in 2018-19 with Duke in order to try and improve his draft stock and secure more guaranteed money.
Harry Giles ultimately made the right decision leaving Duke when he did, getting paid early in his career, because who’s to say that he wouldn’t have gotten injured again and fallen out of the first round completely.