Duke will be at full strength for the first time all season when Tennessee State comes to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Monday night. Big man Harry Giles, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2016 according to ESPN, is expected to make his college debut after recovering from offseason knee surgery, according to multiple reports.
No. 1 recruit Harry Giles is finally making his college debut for Duke
Harry Giles is back and Duke finally has everyone healthy.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Giles has long been projected as a top NBA draft pick, with great mobility and long arms for a 6’11 center. He’ll be eased into a lineup that also has senior Amile Jefferson and freshman Marques Bolden vying for minutes in the front court.
The thought of a healthy Giles was one reason Duke was considered a possible college basketball superteam before the season. During his absence, sophomore guard Luke Kennard has grown into one of the best scorers in the country while fellow freshman Jayson Tatum is starting to become a key cog upon recovery from his own injury.
Duke enters the game at 10-1 with its only loss coming to Kansas. The question will be how Coach K integrates Giles into the lineup and how effective the freshman can be after missing so much time.
Giles has a long history of knee injuries. He tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus after his freshman year of high school, then tore the ACL in his other knee in the first game of his senior season at Oak Hill. Giles was on track to be ready from day one at Duke before a setback called for another minor procedure.
Giles is currently projected as the No. 13 pick in the next NBA draft by DraftExpress.
See More:
