Jayhawks Basketball Recruiting: Harry Giles Great Fit for Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks basketball team will be losing a lot of firepower on the inside after this season. Harry Giles III would be a superb prospect to fill the void.

The Kansas Jayhawks are just one of the bluest of blueblood college basketball programs to be pursuing power forward Harry Giles for the 2016-2017 season.

The Jayhawks basketball recruiting efforts are being matched by the likes of Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and Wake Forest, which of course, is coached by Jayhawks legend, Danny Manning.

Giles is an intriguing prospect. He is tall and lanky, at 6’10”, 210 pounds. 247 Sports has him ranked as the third best recruit this season and the best power forward.

ESPN has him ranked as their top prep player going into the season. They tantalize with this scouting report:

"He is explosive around the rim and dunks with power at every opportunity. He is a monster on the glass especially offensively where he is a tip dunk threat if not boxed out aggressively."

The Jayhawks will be losing three key big men after this season. Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor, and Hunter Mickelson are all seniors. Kansas also has Cheick Diallo on their roster, though he is awaiting to be cleared by the NCAA to play this season.

Whether Diallo is cleared of any wrongdoing or not, this may be his only season on campus. This is purely speculation, but Diallo could jump to the NBA for next year. Even he were to stay, the team would have majors holes to fill from those three graduating players.

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Big men will have a chance to step in and contribute big time as freshmen. They will have to compete with Landen Lucas, Carlton Bragg, and Ole Miss transfer Dwight Coleby. Head coach Bill Self loves to have plenty of depth up front, and opportunities are abound.

According to the KUSports.com, Giles was one of five top recruits to visit campus during Late Night. He evidently enjoyed his time at Kansas. Giles indicated to The Shiver, according to Matt Scott of 247 Sports that Kansas impressed Giles.

"“The visit was incredible,” said Giles. “I loved it,” Giles added about the visit."

Adam Zagoria is reporting that Giles will make a decision in the first couple of weeks of November, according to Giles’ high school coach. Steve Smith, Giles’ Oak Hill Academy coach, told Zagoria that while Duke may be the frontrunner, the Kansas Jayhawks are still in the running.

"“I know everybody thinks he’s going to Duke and they may be the frontrunners still, I’m not sure. He loved his visits to Kentucky and Kansas. I think Kansas opened his eyes a little bit to other programs besides Duke because I think in his mind Duke was the favorite but then he goes to Kansas and he really liked the visit."

As of now, the 247 Sports Crystal Ball is giving the Jayhawks no shot at landing Giles. But things can change, as Zagoria indicated. Recently, Giles cancelled his visit to North Carolina, so that school may be out of the race. The Crystal Ball still has the Tar Heels as a possibility.

RELATED ARTICLE: MITCH LIGHTFOOT NEARING A DECISION

Kansas is already awaiting the decision of another big man, Mitch Lightfoot. Whether or not Lightfoot chooses the Jayhawks shouldn’t affect Harry Giles and his decision. There will be plenty of playing time available at Kansas for at least a couple of big men.

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Stay tuned for more Kansas Jayhawks basketball recruiting rumors!