Blockbuster package deal comes to fruition as Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor pick Duke

It's a package deal that has captivated the college basketball world for the past year.

Prep stars Jahlil Okafor of Whitney Young (Chicago) and Tyus Jones of Apple Valley (Minn.) have made no secret about their desire to play together at the next level. Now we know the lucky university that will benefit from grabbing two of the top five recruits for the Class of 2014.

During an ESPNU broadcast Friday afternoon, the two friends announced simultaneously about 400 miles apart that Duke won the recruiting war.

More on Jones-Okafor to Duke: Did LeBron's 'Decision' solidify package deal?

"We had our final talk last night and that really finalized it," Jones said in a press conference following his announcement. "We talk every day, so we were going back-and-forth every day."

Okafor, a 6-foot-10 center who is the 247Sports Composite No. 1 player for the Class of 2014, and Jones, 247's No. 5 senior prospect, trimmed their college lists to Duke and Kansas on Wednesday.

Ultimately, it came down to what Duke offered on and off the court.

"We feel that we can fit into their style of play right away as freshmen," Jones said. "Obviously, Coach K (Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski). To have a chance to go and play under arguably the best coach of all-time and one of the best basketball minds out there. We felt like we would learn a lot being under him."

When Krzyzewski met with Jones on multiple recruiting visits, the two seemed to be on the same page.

"He's a real down-to-earth guy," Jones said. "He's easy to have a conversation with. He's a people person, so I built a great relationship with Coach K and I'm real excited to get down there and get to work."

Apple Valley head coach Zach Goring is looking forward to seeing his floor general play at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

"He’s really going to thrive in their system," Goring said. "They push the ball, they play fast. I think Tyus will have a ton of fun in the ACC. Playing in front of the Cameron Crazies every night, he's just going to have a blast down there."

Jones said Krzyzewski was excited to find out he landed two of the top players in the country.

"He was excited and just happy for me and Jahlil, because he knows it's been a long process, and it's a hard process for any recruit," Jones said. "He was just excited for us and just happy for us that we made the best decision."

With Okafor and Jones in the fold, Duke has the inside track to land the top 2014 recruiting class. The Blue Devils also have a pledge from Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.) guard Grayson Allen, a consensus Top 50 prospect.

National championship hopes will be running high in Durham next season as Duke should return plenty of talent with or without current freshman phenom Jabari Parker.