One year later, the four of them are still together, sharing an apartment in East Lansing, enjoying college life. Michigan State's 2016 recruiting class -- Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston -- was originally thought of as a one-year wonder; a group that would come to pass for a single season before disbanding.
But then, this offseason, Bridges passed over the 2017 NBA Draft, opting to return to school. Langford, Ward and Winston all returned, too.
That changed everything.
Last week, Winston, an earnest point guard from Detroit, was asked what his reaction would be if he were asked a year ago the chances of this class remaining intact for a second season.