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Justise Winslow Values Education and Basketball

Peach 12 more pics 011LOS ANGELES – Over the years Texas has mostly been known as a football state. High school football runs rampant in small and big towns all over the state. It’s become a ritual for cities to flock to their local high school games on Friday nights and watch the stars of the future. However, there’s been a change over recent years in Texas. What once was a football state has now brought out some of the top basketball talent in the country. One only needs to look at the team listings for the Nike EYBL and see that the state of Texas alone has four AAU teams in the league, more than any other state.

Next year Duke will sport two players from the state of Texas in sophomore Rasheed Sulaimon and incoming freshman Matt Jones. Duke will hope to continue the Texas pipeline by adding 2014 wing Justise Winslow. Winslow, who attends St. Johns School, a very strict academic institution, has been on Duke’s radar for quite some time now. The 6’6 wing has a chiseled frame that would allow him to step onto a NCAA court right now. Recently he was awarded the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the state of Texas, an honor that was won by Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart last year.

Winslow, who hails from Houston, credits his excellent academics to his brothers, specifically his older brother, Joshua Winslow, who plays defensive back for Dartmouth. Being an excellent student, Winslow says that academics will be a factor in his decision. His brother Joshua is pushing him to [private] choose the best academic school possible when Justise makes his final decision.

In the first session of the EYBL in Los Angeles Winslow’s Houston Hoops team went 4-0 with an average margin of victory of 24.5 points. His team is filled with athletic Division 1 prospects which include future North Carolina Tar Heel Justin Jackson, Khadeem Lattin and Kelly Oubre. On a team filled with talent Winslow still shines through. Winslow ran point-forward for Houston Hoops and looked very natural doing it. Perhaps his best attribute is his passing skills which allow an offense to be run through him. His strong frame allows him to get to the basket and finish through contact. Winslow also has a knack for not taking bad shots, a quality lost on many young basketball talents. In 4 games of the first session Winslow averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 52 percent shooting from the field.

BlueDevilNation caught up with the top priority prospect and discussed his recruiting, his high school, why he likes to read the Wall Street Journal and other topics.

BlueDevilNation: What do you feel like you’ve most improved on over this past year?

JW: I think really just being a leader out there. Someone who my teammates can respect. Also my shooting and ball handling, reading pick and rolls and things like that.

BDN: What do you feel you still need to improve on?

JW: Well everything. You never can be satisfied, but, you know, especially my shooting and ball handling.

BDN: I don’t believe I’ve seen one yet but have you made a final list?

JW: No, not a final list. I’m down to 10 right now.

BDN: Who are those final 10?

JW: North Carolina, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Texas A&M, Baylor, University of Houston, Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford.

BDN: Do you have a timeframe for when you’d like to make your decision?

JW: I’m going to narrow it down pretty soon, probably going into June. Hopefully I can sign and be committed by November.

BDN: So the early period then.

JW: Yea, hopefully.

BDN: You had a few in-home visits recently. Take me through the Arizona one if you could.

JW: Well they were my first one. It was Thursday at noon. They came over and it went pretty well. Coach Miller thinks I’m the key to him getting to his first Final Four. But, you know, over the years I’ve built a good relationship with Coach Miller so it was really a comfortable visit.

BDN: You also had one with Duke as well. Could you take me through that visit?

JW: You know, Coach K, I had an unofficial visit with them this past spring also. Coach K thinks I can come in and step in and be that elite wing that they’ll be missing in the next couple of years with probably Jabari leaving and Hood leaving also. They just think I can come in and have an instant impact. And just the Duke brand and education.

BDN: What’s your relationship like with Coach K?

JW: Great. He was the USA basketball coach and I made the USA 17U team so I got to meet him there and talk to him there. He’s a great guy.

BDN: Speaking about your USA experience. Do you think that has translated over to your high school and AAU playing?

JW: I think with the USA experience, you know, no one’s really playing selfishly so it kind of helps you identify your role on whatever team you’re playing with. I think that’s something I carried into school and into AAU just to know my role and try to play to the best of my abilities.

BDN: Have the Duke coaches compared you to anyone by any chance?

JW: Well they compared me to Gerald Henderson and Grant Hill, things like that. But they also say that I’m special and unique in my own way.

BDN: You ran a lot of point for Houston Hoops, does that differ from your role in high school?

JW: Ah not really. I would just say in school ball I have the ball in my hand a lot and I run the floor. But out here, I do whatever the coach wants me to do and it goes back to just knowing my role and playing my role.

BDN: Are you taking any official visits soon?

JW: Official? No. I think I’m going to try and take an unofficial to UCLA soon because I haven’t been out there with Coach Alford there. So that’s something I’m looking to do.

BDN: Have you spoken with Coach Alford recently?

JW: Yea I had an in-home with him.

BDN: How do you like him?

JW: Oh he’s cool. He’s young, energetic. I like his style of play.

BDN: Other than a school championship next year, what are your personal goals?

JW: To win the Gatorade Player of the Year again for Texas.

BDN: You won it this year. Congratulations.

JW: Thank you. You know, to make those McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand game.

BDN: Did you get a chance to watch those games this year?

JW: I watched the McDonald’s game but I didn’t get a chance to watch the Jordan Brand game. You know that’s just one of my goals since growing up.

BDN: Oh absolutely. I wanted to ask you about your fantastic competitive drive. Where does that come from? Was it natural or did you learn it over the years?

JW: I think that just, being the youngest in my family, never winning, I just tried so hard to win. I used to get, not picked on, but, my older siblings would bug me and pick on me a little bit. Toughen me up. So I think that’s really what makes me a tough competitor.

BDN: You have an older brother at Dartmouth, correct?

JW: Yes sir.

BDN: What’s his influence on you like?

JW: He’s a great influence on me. He wants me to be the best player, but, in this recruiting process he wants me to go to the best academic school possible.

BDN: Well he’s at a great school. I saw you recently tweeted a picture of you reading the Wall Street Journal. Do you read that often?

JW: (laughs) Kinda, not really. But I think it’s good to be up to date with the current events, with the things going on in Boston and Korea. It’s good to know about those things.

BDN: Do you have a favorite subject in school at all?

JW: Math and physics.

BDN: You also said you recently saw the movie 42 (Jackie Robinson Story). How was that?

JW: Oh it was great. In school ball I actually wear 42 kind of for that reason. So that’s just a big role model in my life because he did so much for baseball and for other sports.

BDN: Oh I had no idea. You go to a fantastic academic school in St. Johns. How did that decision come about?

JW: Just, you know, my siblings, my brother, the one at Dartmouth went there. He was a big role model in my life. Going back to the academic thing he just wants me to go to the best academic school possible. So going there provided me with a chance because if basketball doesn’t work out..

BDN: You’d have something to fall back on..

JW: Exactly. Exactly.

BDN: Thanks a lot for your time. Good luck the rest of the weekend.

JW: No problem. Thank you. [/private]

 

 

 

Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Jalen Lindsey 2013 Nike EYBL – Session #1 – Los Angeles

JalenLindsey

 

LOS ANGELES – As Duke’s search for wing players continues it has brought them to Jalen Lindsey, a 6’6 swingman from Nashville Tennessee. Lindsey, who currently sports a 4.0 GPA, says that Duke has recently expressed interest in him. The swingman possesses solid athleticism which he thinks is one of his strengths. Lindsey, who plays for Christ Presbyterian Academy, is coming off of back to back Class AA state championships and many believe his team is in line for a threepeat next year. This past year he won the state championship tournament MVP as well as the Mr. Basketball award for the state of Tennessee.

BlueDevilNation was able to catch up with the Nashville product and discuss the new interest from Duke.

BlueDevilNation: For someone who hasn’t seen you before could you give us a scouting report?

Jalen Lindsey: I’m definitely, I’m really athletic. I use my athleticism a lot. You know, I can knock down the three too. It’s kind of an all around game so you gotta be prepared for anything.

BDN: What would you consider a strength of yours then? [private]

JL: Athleticism definitely.

BDN: What do you feel you have to work on?

JL: Oh definitely ball handling. That’s something I’ve been working on for months and months lately, years actually.

BDN: Is there any player you try and model your game after?

JL: Uh not really, not really.

BDN: You’re just kind of your own guy?

JL: (laughs) Yes sir.

BDN: Does your role differ from AAU to high school ball?

JL: Yea it’s completely different cause I’m like the tallest guy on my high school team so I’m kind of a post man, post-forward. And in here (AAU) I’m a 3 so I have to go back and forth between those two.

BDN (Andrew Slater): You won a state title this past year…

JL: Yes, yes. Second year in a row.

BDN: Do you view yourself as a 3 or a 2?

JL: I do, I view myself as a 3 and every college coach and a lot of my friends tell my I’m going to play the 3 in college and hopefully if I go to the NBA I’ll play the same position.

BDN: What’s your current height and weight?

JL: I’m 6’6 195lbs.

BDN (Andrew Slater): What kind of student are you?

JL: I have a 4.0GPA

BDN (Andrew Slater): Wow..you’re articulate so..

JL: (laughs) My dad, my mom and dad are on me about grades so I definitely work hard in class.

BDN: Do you have any recent offers?

JL: Not any recent offers. I have 20 total offers, I couldn’t name them all right now but not any recent offers.

BDN: Any schools that have recently come into play?

JL: Yea, uh, Duke has been coming onto me pretty hard. Duke’s been coming in pretty hard lately.

BDN: Have you spoken with them recently?

JL: I have. I spoke to Coach James like 2 days ago.

BDN: Did they say they’d be here to watch?

JL: Yes, definitely.

BDN: What do you know about Duke?

JL: You know, I know Duke’s a great school. Great coach and they got a lot of background and I really like Duke.

BDN: So you would be open to them?

JL: Yea, definitely.

BDN (Andrew Slater): Have you taken any recent visits?

JL: I haven’t. I haven’t.

BDN (Andrew Slater): Do you have any planned?

JL: I plan on taking some visits during the summer but I’m not sure which ones.

BDN (Andrew Slater): Are you going to cut down on your list?

JL: Yea, sooner or later I will. Sooner or later I’m going to cut down on it to where there’s less schools.

BDN (Andrew Slater): More manageable?

JL: Yea exactly. I’m just taking my time right now.

BDN (Andrew Slater): What are some factors that are going to be in your decision?

JL: Academics for sure. And then you got the facility and the relationship between the coaches is a big thing for me too.

BDN (Andrew Slater): Just out of curiosity how did you select your high school?

JL: My coach I’ve been playing with him since I was young..

BDN (Andrew Slater): I remember he played college ball at Vanderbilt?

JL: Vanderbilt, yea. So I’ve played with him since I was little, I was on his AAU team so I joined them and that was it.

BDN: And just one last question. You have a new teammate in Grayson Allen can you give me a scouting report on him?

JL: Grayson’s a great player. He’s athletic, he can dribble, he can shoot, he’s got the whole package. Grayson’s a great guy too so he’s fun to play with. [/private]

BDN Premium Articles, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Theo Pinson chats up the Nation

Theo_PinsonLOS ANGELES – Seventy miles from the Duke University campus is Wesleyan Christian Academy. Theo Pinson helped lead his Trojans to the NCHSAA 3A state championship as they beat Greensboro Day 59-49. The 6’6 swingman was also selected to the NCISAA 3A boys all-state team along with his teammate Harry Giles. Pinson is playing in his last season of AAU before he becomes a senior and ultimately matriculates to the school of his choice.

On Sunday, Pinson’s team, CP3, beat a relentless Howard Pulley team 70-66. Howard Pulley, led by top point guard prospect Tyus Jones, was down 15 points with under 5 minutes to play and almost made the miraculous comeback. Pinson scored 16 points on 4 of 11 shooting. He also made key free throws down the stretch including a big offensive rebound to keep possession for his team.

BlueDevilNation was able to catch up with the swingman prospect and get his thoughts on his recruitment.

BlueDevilNation: What’s your mindset going into this final AAU season? Any different than before?

Theo Pinson: Na, I mean all of the other years I wanted to win championships. We went to the final four last year so we’re trying to finish this time.

BDN: What do you feel like you’ve improved on most this past season?

TP: Defensive wise I’ve just been pressuring up a little more cause you have to do it [private]  in college.

BDN: Has that been a big focus for you?

TP: Oh yea, and shooting also.

BDN: Will you be cutting your list anytime soon?

TP: Uh yea, probably after the live period this time, after Boo Williams.

BDN: Is there any school that’s recruiting you the hardest right now?

TP: Oh, na.

BDN: Is there any pressure to stay in state?

TP: Not really, I mean, of course a lot of people are going to say go to Duke, go to Carolina, go to State and other schools. But, I mean, I’m just doing the best for me.

BDN: Will distance be a factor for you at all?

TP: No.

BDN: Speaking of Duke, have you been in contact with them regularly?

TP: Yea, I mean, all of them have been, since the seasons been over, everybody’s been trying to communicate and telling me they’re going to be watching this weekend and stuff like that.

BDN: Who do you keep contact with at Duke?

TP: I talked to K the one time and then it’s been Capel, but he’s been in surgery right now. And Wojo a couple of times.

BDN: Do you pay attention to who comes out and watches you?

TP: Yea you gotta pay attention to that. You gotta use little stuff like that to separate the schools.

BDN: Do you have any visits coming up?

TP: Umm, not right now.

BDN: How about any in-homes?

TP: No, not yet.

BDN: Who do you feel is the toughest player you’ve had to guard?

TP: Either Julius (Randle) or Andrew (Wiggins). Those are two good ones. (laughs)

BDN: You have a great high school teammate in Harry Giles. Can you give me a scouting report on him?

TP: Uhhh, shoot, you better learn how to guard, or you’re going to have to find somebody that’s strong or something. I don’t know, I mean he’s hard to guard. He’s gotta stop himself. That’s the only way you’re gonna stop him.

BDN: And lastly, are teams recruiting you as a 2 or a 3?

TP: A lot of teams are just recruiting me as a guard. I mean I can play any position from the 1, 2, or 3 or a 4 if I have to.

BDN: Thanks a lot.

TP: No problem.

[/private]

Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball – Notes from Indy

SONY DSCThe Duke Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight where they will take on Louisville for a chance to go to the Final Four. BDN takes a look at the frenetic pace of events in Indy as we continue our coverage.

A good win over Michigan State

A lot of people were worried about this game and for good reason in that Tom Izzo and the Spartans are always good, but the Blue Devils seized the opportunity at hand pulling out a 71-61 win. On a night when Quinn Cook struggled, Tyler Thonrton played well off the bench and Seth Curry was quite simply the best player on the court by evenings end. Curry of course, dropped 29 points to lead all scorers and he got help from fellow seniors Ryan Kelly who scored 9 points to go with his team high 7 rebounds. Actually, Mason Plumlee tied him for the lead in rebounds with 7 of his own and scored 14 points himself.  It is also worth noting that Kelly was also the games leader in blocked shots with 4 rejections. Rasheed Sulaimon tallied 16 points as well, knocking down 12 of 16 free throws. As a team, Duke went a more than acceptable 24-26 from the free throw stripe as well. And then there is the defense which you have probably read about by now, but if not is was stellar and should the level of play continue, Duke will be a tough out.

SONY DSCNo time to reflect

In talking to the Duke players during  the press conference here in Indy and what they call break out rooms where they speak individually with members of the media, it was clear they were tired due to the late end of the game.   Some members of the team had to take mandatory drug tests late last evening and the other players while they did not have to, waited for their teammates, putting them in their rooms about 2:00 in the morning. Krzyzewski and others saw this as being ridiculous in nature for many reasons. The team had to be back at Lucas Oil Arena by noon today for the aforementioned interviews and according to many of them, it took some time to wind down from the  Michigan State game they had just won. It was impossible for them not to think about that with the dreaded overkill thoughts before bedding down for the evening and to make matters worse, Louisville had to be on their minds as well. While these are indeed young men that can run circles around me, the responsibilities they have which are demanding in nature go unnoticed by fans. But the media knows, for they are on the same schedule with dead lines and in my case it was around 2:48 before I left the arena. Anyhow, Krzyzewski mentioned this as he should, hoping the NCAA will do a study on the situation. There was no reason why today's pressers could not be pushed back at least until say, 2:00. Another thing worth mentioning is that the coaching staff gets very little sleep if any, breaking down film and preparing for the job at hand in order to advance.  How tired were Coach K's Devils?  Tired enough to only conduct a simple walk through practice today.

SONY DSCThe Final Four Regional

Again, I have dubbed this the Final Four regional in that this region is and or was,  flat out loaded. For the record, Duke and Louisville are the top two seeds left in the entire tournament and many feel the game tomorrow could in a sense be the national title game. It's almost a crime that these two-storied and strong programs could not meet for all the marbles. I mean it is Pitino vs Krzyzewski for gosh sakes and both teams are playing great basketball.  Some feel the winner of this game could actually get a break when they hit the Final Four and I would not argue against that and actually agree with the analogy.

Keep in mind ...

Keep in mind that we'll see these two programs going head to head in the future when Louisville joins the ACC. In that vein, this is an all ACC match up in slightly skewed way. The one thing I noticed when talking to both teams players was the fact that I saw a lot of character. Covering the Duke program up close and personal over the years and even the AAU trail and the kids who eventually go to school in Durham, the one thing I can say with 100% objectivity, is that the Blue Devils players all have immense character in that they are all great kids and citizens on and off the court.

SONY DSCNobody better than Coach K in Elite Eight play

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski is 11-1 in Elite Eight play which is an amazing record. Blue Devil faithful are lucky to have him at the helm and who the heck else would you want in this situation? But the fan base should be grateful win or lose tomorrow and not take for granted how hard it is to advance in these tournaments. Remind yourself how it felt to go out last season against Lehigh in order to enjoy the accomplishments which are earned with hard work that starts the very next day the season ends. It's a long process and the season will be full of ebbs and flows but the last team standing will always be the happiest. Duke is one victory away from going to another Final Four which would be the eleventh for Coach K and company, one shy of John Wooden at UCLA.

30 wins, again

Duke won its 30th game of the season and while no fan wants it to end, that in itself is a dream for any school. It's the 13th time in history Krzyzewski has won 30 games at Duke. In fact, he is the only coach to win 30 in Durham and he has more 30 win seasons than any other coach in the long history of college basketball.

SONY DSCDuke just doesn't have it ... Duke will win it all

It amazes me how wrong the talking heads can be with their predictions as the year goes along and their flipping and flopping is akin to being manic. Going into last evenings game, BDN picked the Devils to win and we did so confidently. Maybe it comes from being around since the dawn of the K era for me or maybe it was just luck. Anyhow, Duke is starting to get some favorable press again. After the Maryland loss, everybody assumed a single game performance meant that Duke would continue to play like that and the ship was destined to sink. Maybe those NBA types will start to do their homework a bit more going forward. After all, it is not like anyone invited them to invade their living room trying to pose as college hoops experts.

Sidebar - Duke is 26-8 all time as a no. 2 seed. Duke is playing in their 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament which is the longest such streak of any program. Did you know there were seven couch fires in East Lansing, Michigan last night?  Seth Curry knocked down six three pointers, a new Lucas oil Arena record and his is 29 points were the second most scored in the arena.  Duke's free throw percentage last evening was the highest in their NCAA tournament history.  Cook moved to 19th on the all time Duke assist list.

Stick around, for a lot more is coming from Indy.