INDIANAPOLIS — Justise Winslow had a day’s notice that two of his closest friends were headed to Duke.
On Nov. 14, 2013, one day before Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones were to make their historic college announcement on ESPN, Winslow knew what was coming down the pike.
“I knew probably a day, a day and a half before they committed they were going to Duke,” Winslow said here on Easter Sunday as Duke prepared to meet Wisconsin in Monday night’s national championship game.
On Nov. 15, Okafor and Jones made history by becoming the most significant package deal in college hoops since Greg Oden and Mike Conley jointly committed to Ohio State in the 2006 class. Still, Winslow didn’t make his own announcement until six days later, Nov. 21.
At the time, the 6-foot-6 wing out of Houston (TX) St. John’s was also considering Arizona, UCLA, Florida and Texas A&M, and there was at least some level of concern with the Duke coaching staff about where he might land.
“Well, when you’re recruiting there’s always concerns you’re not going to get your guy,” Duke assistant Nate James said.
Arizona, in particular, thought it had a chance to land Winslow, who was good friends with Stanley Johnson, who committed to the Wildcats Nov. 15.
“Arizona, UCLA and Florida,” Houston Hoops coach Tim Schumacher told SNY.tv. “All three were serious options and I believe Justise could see himself playing at all of those schools.”
While Okafor and Jones have known each other since the third grade, Winslow was always linked to their package because he was friendly with them dating to their time together on the USA U17 team that won gold in Lithuania in the summer of 2012.
In the championship game against Australia, Okafor won MVP honors by going for 17 points and 8 rebounds and Winslow added 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals.
“I got offered by Duke after the U17s in Lithuania,” Winslow said. “I think that was the summer after my sophomore year, so going into my junior year. Ever since then, there were other schools that were also recruiting the three of us. But I knew Jah and Tyus were doing their package thing, but I told them from the beginning I was going to do what’s best for me and my family.
“At the same time it was always going to be an opportunity. So fast forward to senior year around November, I’m texting them, ‘What do you think y’all are going to do?’ Calling them, FaceTiming them and they were really not sure.”
While tons of kids talk about packaging, it hardly ever happens.
It’s just not practical or realistic most times.
Yet Okafor and Jones were able to pull it off thanks to constant group phonicalls and text messaging between their respective families and also with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“The way they did it was great,” Coach K said. “It showed a sensitivity that most teenagers would never have. It’s really a good thing. That’s the kind of young men they are. I saw that throughout the recruiting process. But the way they made their decision and handled it was not cool or whatever, it was sensitive. I think when a player can understand a coach’s feelings, and a coach can understand a player’s feelings, there’s a great chance that they can have a terrific relationship. That’s what we’ve had.”
Ultimately, once Okafor and Jones pledged to Duke, “it did play a factor into my decision,” Winslow said. “The biggest thing for me was where can I go and be effective and have a chance to do something special and I just thought Duke would be the best for that. Grayson [Allen] committed in October and then Jah probably three or four days before me. And then I was just the last piece.”
And what a piece he has turned out to be, even if Charles Barkley mistakenly called him Winstons Justice before the Final Four.
Winslow is averaging 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Blue Devils, and went off for 19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the 81-61 rout of Michigan State here on Saturday. Since Rasheed Sulaimon was dismissed from the team, Winslow has really thrived while playing the four spot.
“It was extremely important to get that piece,” James said of Winston. “Duke has always had success when we had that at that big athletic strong wing and that player that also could be moved to that four position for that mismatch so when he decided to come we were obviously extremely happy because we knew the dynamic of our team, of our lineup would change.”
Winslow’s NBA stock is on the rise too.
Once a projected Top-15 or Top-10 pick, DraftExpress.com now lists him as the projected No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft.
“The better Winslow plays, the higher they’ll keep talking about him,” one NBA scout told SNY.tv. “Some people moved him from 10 to 6, from 9 to 6. The better he plays, the more it solidifies him.”
For one more game, Duke just wants the third member of their terrific trio to keep on doing what he’s always done.
“With Justice, when he’s playing at a high level, it’s big-time for our team,” James said
“I tell him every game, be that warrior, be that versatile guy and go out there and wreak havoc on both ends and when he’s doing that we’re a hard team to stop.”
Photos: USA Today Sports
