University of Miami basketball coach Perry Clark believed he signed a difference-maker in C.J. Giles in November.
“He is a versatile big man who has the ability to affect a game both offensively and defensively,” Clark said of Giles, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound high school senior from Seattle’s Rainier Beach High who is making an official recruiting visit to Kansas University this weekend.
Giles is at KU — with top prep juniors Mario Chalmers of Anchorage, Alaska, and Micah Downs of Bothell, Wash. — because Miami finally released him from his letter of intent more than a month after firing Clark.
“C.J. is an impact player with a winning attitude who comes from a high school program with a great tradition of success,” Clark added of Giles, who is expected to land at either KU or the University of Washington.
Giles emerged as one of the top big men in the country this past season. He averaged 17.2 points, 12 rebounds and 6.0 blocked shots a game for Rainier Beach, runner-up in the Class 3A state tournament after winning the crown last year.
“Giles is a rarity, a center who can run the floor and hit jumpers with the confidence of a guard,” wrote Jeannine Befidi of the Seattle Times. “Under the basket, he is an imposing presence for even the most experienced post players.”
Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea has referred to Giles as a “young David Robinson,” adding, “C.J. is a tremendous player who can really control a game with his shot-blocking ability. Offensively he has a lot of ability. He can hit the midrange jumper consistently and finishes very well around the basket.”
Chalmers, a 6-2, 175-pound point guard, averaged 23.2 points, 6.0 assists and 5.8 rebounds a game last year at Bartlett High, and earned Anchorage Daily News’ Class 4A Player of the Year honors for the second straight season.
Coaches from KU, Arizona, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech have been to Alaska to visit with Chalmers and his dad, Ronnie, who has an 88-18 coaching record in four years at Bartlett High, with two state titles to his and his son’s credit.
“It’s exciting,” Mario Chalmers told the Daily News. “I know they (elite college coaches) come all the way to Alaska to recruit me.”
Downs, a 6-7, 175-pound junior guard/forward, averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last season.
“He’s a Mike Dunleavy clone with a great perimeter stroke,” said recruiting analyst Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com. “He can put it on the floor and hit the mid-range shot and also attack the basket. He is a complete player with all the tools to be special when he gains strength.”
“I’m a good rebounder, but I know I need to bulk up for the next level, and I need to work on my defense,” Downs told theinsiders.com.
Downs is considering KU, Duke and Gonzaga.
“(Kansas) coach (Bill) Self is a real outgoing guy, which is something I like about him,” Downs told rivals.com. “He wants to build a relationship with me outside of basketball. We talked at length about that during my in-school visit. The coaching staff also feels that I can come in and contribute right away.”
“I will take the weekend to think about it. My mother and coach will help me,” Galindo said Thursday. “It’s going to be hard. It will be a tough decision. I’ve written down things about each school, how comfortable I’ll be there and how I’ll fit in the system.”
Galindo, who averaged 18.0 points a game last season and is known as a great shooter, visited KU last weekend and Georgetown on Monday through Wednesday.
“The trip went well,” he said of Georgetown. “It’s one of the best schools in the country in a great city. I like Kansas. I like all the schools. I’ll try to relax and let my heart say where I’m going.”
