Top recruits Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum ponder potential package deal
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Two of the top recruits in the Class of 2016 couldn’t help but notice last spring when longtime friends Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor achieved their goal of capturing the national championship together.
Forwards Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum have spoken about trying to do something similar in college, whether at Duke or one of the other top programs that would gladly make room for both of them.
“You see something like that, two great players teaming up, it definitely influences you,” Tatum said. “They had one goal in mind, they accomplished it and they had a great time doing it. Who wouldn’t want to do that?”
The increasing possibility that Giles and Tatum could opt to play together in college could make Duke, Kentucky or North Carolina next year’s big winners in recruiting. The Blue Devils are regarded as the favorite to land Tatum, while the Wildcats and Tar Heels are the only other programs both players are still considering.
Whereas Jones and Okafor conducted weekly conference calls with one another’s family, went on visits together and ultimately committed during simultaneous press conferences, a potential Tatum-Giles package deal is not nearly as well organized. Tatum says he intends to commit “very soon” — definitely by the end of the summer. Giles still has a list of eight programs he is considering and intends to take his time.
“I’d love to play together, but we have to do what’s right for both of us,” Giles said. “[The Okafor-Jones package deal] was a little different because they committed at the same time. If we go to the same school we’re not going to commit at the same time.”
It’s easy to see why programs would be eager to take both Giles and Tatum after seeing the chemistry the two consensus top-three recruits have developed playing together for USA Basketball the past few years.
Giles, a lanky, athletic 6-foot-10 power forward, and Tatum, a smooth, skilled 6-foot-8 small forward, led the U.S. U-19 team to a gold medal in Greece last week even though both were two of the youngest players on the roster. They roomed together on that trip, further cementing their interest in playing together in the future.
Neither Giles nor Tatum had much time to rest or adjust to a time change before leaving for the Nike EYBL finals at the Peach Jam, but neither have allowed fatigue to diminish their impact.
Giles has led Team CP3 to a 3-1 record in pool play by averaging 18.3 points and 12 rebounds. A big reason the St. Louis Eagles are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in pool play is because Tatum is averaging 23.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
“It’s tough,” Tatum said. “I definitely feel it in my body. The time change has me pretty tired right now, but you’ve got to get used to it and get over it.”
While Giles and Tatum could both envision themselves wearing the same uniform in college, both caution not to count out the other schools besides Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina on their respective lists.
Giles is also considering Kansas, Ohio State, Syracuse, Wake Forest and UNLV. Tatum insists he has genuine interest in hometown school Saint Louis even though the Billikens lack the historical pedigree of the other programs pursuing him.
“It’s definitely real,” Tatum said. “A lot of people don’t expect them to be on my list, but I love my hometown, I love the school, I love the players, the program, the people that work there, the atmosphere. I’ve visited the school numerous times and it’s still a strong possibility for me.”
Rivals.com video of Jayson Tatum:
Rivals.com video of Harry Giles:
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
