Harry Giles' Decision: Sales Pitches for Top Contenders to Land 5-Star PF

In the 1994 movie Blue Chips, an iconic college basketball flick, there’s a scene where Ed, a journalist played by Ed O’Neill, hovers over a printer waiting for the commitments of fictional recruits Ricky Roe and Butch McRae.

It was, in some ways, homage to coaches around the country who would sit in front of fax machines waiting on letters of intent—some that would shape the future of their program.

Twenty-one years later, the decisions of these “blue chip” recruits are equally as impactful yet much more a dog-and-pony show. So intriguing are these decisions that networks have made them made-for-television events where recruits unveil their decision by donning the swag of their chosen college.

Not only do the decisions themselves make national headlines, but so does the announcement of exactly when those decisions will be made. Has it gotten convoluted over the last 20 years? Sure.

But all you need to know for now is that power forward Harry Giles, unilaterally considered one of the top-three recruits in the class of 2016, will announce his college choice on Nov. 14 at the Phenom National Showcase.

His choice is reportedly down to Wake Forest, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas. In the weeks leading up to his college decision, Giles will have a lot to consider as coaches from those schools make their final sales pitches, which should look something like this…

Wake Forest’s pitch: Be the hometown hero   

Giles is from Winston-Salem, home to Wake Forest’s campus. He plays high school basketball for Oak Hill Academy, a prep school in Virginia. So it’s doubtful he would experience homesickness.

But there is an appeal to playing in front of friends and family. After only a year of college basketball, Giles could be playing in the NBA, which could land him anywhere around the country. This is the final time Giles gets to choose where he wants to play (Yes, that happens in NBA free agency. But there are so many other influences that go into that decision.)

He could revive a Wake Forest Demon Deacons program that has a proud history of producing NBA talent like Tim Duncan, Chris Paul and Jeff Teague. Win at Wake Forest, and Giles will forever be entrenched in the rich basketball history of both the school and its city.

If emotion enters into Giles’ decision, he’ll pick Wake Forest.

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Duke’s pitch: All we do is win

Coach Mike Krzyzewski may not need to call Giles. He could just send over his resume: five national championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015), five gold medals as the head coach of the USA Men’s National Team, an NCAA-best 1,018 career wins and an NCAA-best 88 NCAA Tournament victories.

Stop there and Duke already should be Giles’ leading candidate.

But what should stick out most in Krzyzewski’s Hall of Fame resume is his most recent achievement—the 2015 national championship. Last season Krzyzewski won the National Championship riding the freshmen trio of Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow.

Krzyzewski proved he could adapt to the college basketball landscape and win with a young group. The 2016-17 team looks like it will rely on that same kind of youth. The Blue Devils already have commitments from small forward Jayson Tatum, point guard Frank Jackson and power forward Javin DeLaurier—all top 50 recruits.  

With Giles aboard, Duke would likely begin the 2016-17 season the top-ranked team in the country.

Kentucky’s Pitch: NBA exposure

No coach in the country has perfected the use of the one-and-done more than John Calipari. Heck, he continually replenishes his roster with so much future NBA talent that he hosted his own combine last year.

Most importantly: He backs up the bravado.

Since taking the Kentucky Wildcats job six seasons ago, Calipari has placed 25 players in the NBA. Four times his players have been selected first overall in the NBA draft. As one of the top players in his class, Giles' goal likely isn't just to get to the NBA but to be one of the top players selected in the draft. Calipari doesn’t just recruit talent; he develops it.

Giles may want to win a national championship, but it’s more important that he gets to the NBA. He’ll have plenty of opportunity to win there. Go to Kentucky, and he is near guaranteed that opportunity.

Kansas’ Pitch: Tradition

Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game of basketball, founded the program at Kansas. The Jayhawks have won 11 consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships under head coach Bill Self.

The streak is talked about on campus. Every game, be it against a small directional school or a ranked opponent, matters to this program. Every game matters to Jayhawks fans.

Allen Fieldhouse, home to Kansas basketball, is one of the most electric places in the country. There isn’t a more diehard fanbase in the country. There isn’t a better place to play.