NBA Draft 2015 Prospect Updates: Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow Could Be Stars in the League, Says Mike Krzyzewski
Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski believes his former players -- Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow -- have strong chance to become stars in the NBA soon.
Krzyzewski, who won the NCAA national title this year with Okafor and Winslow as his key players, declined to predict a landing spot for his former players. But he is quite sure that both draft prospect will make an impact to the team who will pick in them in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Okafor, who averaged 17.3 points on top of 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks during his lone season with the Blue Devils, is projected to be picked first or second to Karl Anthony-Towns, who is No. 1 in most mock drafts.
In a recent interview with The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, Krzyzewski confidently said that Okafor is the best player in the draft at this point because he is ready to contribute on both ends of the floor.
"He's going to be a high double-double guy in the pros," Krzyzewski said of Okafor. "He's gifted. He's got feet and hands that you can't teach. He's got an attitude that's amazing. I think he's the best player in the draft."
On the other hand, Winslow, who averaged 12.6 points to go along with 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his only season as a Blue Devil, is also projected to become one of the first 10 picks in the draft as he is considered as the best available small forward prospect this year.
There is a growing concern that he could fall in the draft after he was measured at 6-foot-4 during the combine. But Like Krzyzewski, Winslow also expressed confidence that he can contribute to his team immediately next season -- both on offense and defense because of his versatility.
"Defensively, coming in, I add physicality and athleticism to the team," Winslow said via Yahoo Sports. "Offensively, just making plays whether it's making threes, getting to the basket, pull-up jumpers or finding my teammates."
Reports indicated that the 19-year-old Texas native worked out for Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic, who own the third, fourth and fifth pick, respectively. The Denver Nuggets, who has the seventh pick, and the Detroit Pistons, who will select eighth, also took a look at Winslow in a workout.
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