Duke basketball 2014-2015 player review: Justise Winslow

Justise Winslow

• Year: Freshman
• Height: 6-foot-6
• This year’s statline: 12.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG
• The Blue Zone’s projected statline: 9.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG

Season breakdown: Lauded for his physicality and high-end motor coming into the season, Winslow certainly did not disappoint. Whether it was his end-to-end finishes in transition or one of his many emphatic rejections on defense, the Houston native’s athleticism and versatility on both ends of the floor are big reasons why Duke emerged as national champions. In the NCAA tournament, Winslow finished with averages of 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest and was the catalyst for the Blue Devils' much-improved defense in March.

But before Winslow impressed on the national stage, many feared that he had hit the freshman wall in January. Dealing with nagging rib and shoulder injuries, the swingman averaged 5.8 points per game and struggled with foul trouble in a six-game span that included losses to N.C. State, Miami and Notre Dame. Yet once Winslow regained full health and was granted additional playing time after to the dismissal of Rasheed Sulaimon, the freshman’s play skyrocketed.

Winslow scored in double figures in 18 of the team's final 19 games and caused nightmares for opposing teams due to his tenacity and fiery competitiveness on both sides of the ball. The swingman complemented his ability to score at will in the paint with a much-improved outside shot that made him a go-to player whenever the game was on the line. Although freshman Jahlil Okafor was the best player on this year’s Duke squad, a case could be made that Winslow was the most important, especially in the postseason.

Results relative to expectations: Few could have predicted that Winslow would perform as well and be as valuable to the team as he was this season. Fears that the freshman’s ability to manhandle smaller players in high school would not translate to the college game were dispelled early, as he proved to be too physical for even college athletes. Winslow's motor and will to win were qualities that made him one of head coach Mike Krzyzewski's favorite players to coach—as evidenced by the numerous in-game high-fives they shared this season.

With the freshman's performance to end the year, the Houston native's draft stock has risen rapidly and it appears Winslow could go as high as No. 3 in the upcoming 2015 NBA Draft. As much as Blue Devil fans have enjoyed watching the freshman play and as much as Winslow has loved playing in front of them at Cameron Indoor Stadium, it appears that the 6-foot-6 freshman has accomplished his mission of bringing a title back to Durham and will now proceed to the professional ranks.

Players we've already reviewed: Grayson Allen