Jun 24, 2015 12:30 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Not long ago, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were leading a particularly young Duke squad to a National Championship; now they are NBA bound with votes of confidence from their legendary coach, Mike Krzyzewski.

Along with Tyus Jones, Okafor and Winslow were part of Krzyzewski's youngest of his five NCAA Tournament Championship teams. So seeing three players integral to a national title leaving for the NBA after one season is uncharted territory for one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

"He's going to be a high double-double guy in the pros," Krzyzewski told ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd 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."

Okafor is widely regarded as the second-best center in the NBA Draft and therefore projected to be selected within the first few picks Thursday night. ESPN's Chad Ford has Okafor ranked third overall on his Big Board and acknowledged he is "still in the mix" with Karl-Anthony Towns to be the first selection overall.

Possibly the best small forward in the class, Winslow showed advanced defensive capabilities at Duke, but is a little less refined on offense. Regardless, he is seen as having a high ceiling, especially with how important wing players are in today's NBA.

"He measured a little small at the combine," an unnamed NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. "But it just confirmed that he has to be a shooting guard in the NBA. He's a tough kid with an improving jumper. He needs to improve his ball-handling skills some more."

Speaking of Winslow, as well as Okafor, Krzyzewski told Cowherd the two "have a chance to be stars, really."

Then there is Jones, the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and easily the most mysterious of Duke's trio of prospects. Sports Illustrated billed Jones as a "sleeper" in the draft, given his "poise under pressure" as well as advanced ball handling skills and passing abilities.

"He's going to be that steady winner," Krzyzewski said of Jones. "That's what he does. He wins."

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