Transfer from Kansas ran into off-court issues

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Corvallis Gazette-Times

In a perfect case of every rose has its thorn, the Oregon State men’s basketball team brought in the most heralded recruit of coach Jay John’s five-season tenure.

C.J. Giles of Seattle was dismissed from Kansas earlier in the season, and enrolled at OSU on Monday. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center was a four-star recruit out of Rainier Beach High.

He won’t be eligible until Dec. 8, 2007, when nearly half of next season is over, but begins practice once he clears his physical. Giles must sit out a year after his transfer, according to NCAA rules. He’ll be a junior next season, using this as a redshirt season.

Giles is a walk-on at the moment, and the Beavers have already filled their scholarship limit for next season. Being closer to home was more important than a scholarship.

“He’s chomping at the bit to get out there,” John said. “It’s going to be a benefit for everybody in terms of the competition level in practice. We will have half our team being youngsters (next year). It will be good for them that as things continue to move forward, it’s an upward swing. For this team, he’s going to bring a different energy level in practice, and that’s good for everybody. They can rise up to the level.”

Sitting out is not the major barb on his record. Giles left Kansas after two troubled seasons with behavioral issues.

The biggest being a misdemeanor battery charge. Giles was accused of hitting a woman at his apartment; he denied hitting her and she later recanted.

Giles is going through a diversion program, and if he stays out of trouble for a year the charges will be dismissed.

“I’m thrilled to be here, and thank the university and the others who were recruiting me who were willing to give me a second chance,” Giles said. “I admit to my mistakes, and I learned from it. I’ve matured from it. I’m here to start fresh.”

Giles asked his high school coach to help him find a new school. Tennessee, Syracuse and Old Dominion were interested in him but the Beavers were closer to home, and heavily recruited him out of high school.

John spent five weeks investigating his situation, and didn’t just bring Giles in because of his talent.

“When I first talked to C.J., he told me he wanted to have a second chance to do things the right way,” John said. “I asked him if he wanted to graduate from college, and he said yes. I moved on from there. C.J. recognizes and admits that he made mistakes. I sincerely believe C.J. wants to learn from his mistakes and do things the right way and become a model student-athlete.”

Assistant coach Brian Loyd recruited Giles out of Rainier Beach, and made an impression on him then. They quickly rekindled their relationship, and that helped Giles feel comfortable back in the Northwest.

His family support was missing at Kansas, which was needed. He was swept into the high-profile status of big-name recruits in the basketball-frenzy Midwest.

“Sometimes you have to go through some tough things to make you a wiser person, a tougher person, and that’s where he is at right now,” Loyd said. “It’s a lot different from when he first went into college. He sees the big picture now.”

As for his court behavior, all the potential remains. Giles blocks shots with his length, and has a strong low post presence.

He was the runner-up for Washington Player of the Year his senior season at Rainier Beach, and was rated the 62nd best high school player in the country by Rivals.com.

“Without any question what C.J. brings to us is we’ve never had a shot-blocking presence and we never had a dominant rebounder,” John said. “I know C.J. can score. It’s the next step forward in terms of having a big man who can control the game.”

Giles appeared in 54 games and started 18 at Kansas, helping the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. He averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots as a sophomore in 2005-06.

“I think I can be effective,” Giles said. “I’ve been watching a lot of Pac-10 ball. I think I can compete with them and help this program. I’m an energy type of guy. I’m a guy who’ll do anything to help the team.”