Tag: Dariq Whitehead

Why Duke forward Dariq Whitehead could slide to the end of the first round in the 2023 NBA Draft

Duke’s Dariq Whitehead might have to wait a while before finding an NBA home

Once upon a time, Duke’s Dariq Whitehead was considered one of the best prospects in basketball. Coming into the 2022 NCAA season, the forward was ranked as the third-best prospect in the nation by 24/7 Sports.

Whitehead was named Mr. Basketball USA and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2022. He also took home the MVP trophy at the McDonald’s All-American Game. The talent is very clearly there. And at 18 years old, he is still very young — the third-youngest player in this year’s draft class.

Yet you would be hard-pressed to find an NBA mock draft today that has Whitehead getting drafted inside of the 20s — we have Whitehead going at No. 22 in our latest mock draft.

The question is why? You typically don’t see this sort of drop coming from such a talented prospect.

But, in Whitehead’s case, the answer is obvious. It’s injuries. Whitehead has been dealing with a foot injury that flipped his only season at Duke on its head.

Whitehead was able to return and play this season, but he certainly didn’t seem to be as explosive as he once was. He had just two dunks while at Duke.

Despite that, Whitehead still put up respectable numbers. He averaged 8.3 points per game this season and shot 42.9% on 3-pointers while nearly half of his shot attempts were coming from beyond the arch in 28 games played.

This stat from our latest mock draft makes that a bit more impressive; it shows that Whitehead has legit NBA range.

“The freshman was 24-for-48 (50.0 percent) on 3-pointers attempted from NBA distance, per Stats Perform, which ranked second-best among consensus top-100 prospects with at least 25 attempts tracked.”

With that said, though, he’s had another setback. His foot didn’t heal properly and he had to have another surgery to correct it, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Even as one of the youngest players in the draft, that’s a bit concerning.

There’s still NBA talent there with Whitehead. Teams will see that. But his injuries will ultimately be the reason why he’ll fall far deeper in the draft than anyone initially anticipated before his collegiate career began.

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Projected first-round pick Dariq Whitehead has second surgery on right foot

Whitehead is expected to begin the rehab process in two weeks and should be ready for the start of training camp.

Projected first-round pick Dariq Whitehead underwent surgery this week on his right foot to correct a previous procedure, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Whitehead missed four games this past season after undergoing surgery on the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in August. The bone did not heal properly, which prompted a “revision operation with bone grafting for a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture” this week.

The 18-year-old is expected to begin the rehab process in two weeks and should be ready for the start of training camp in September. The surgery was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley in New York.

Whitehead averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and one assist on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range as a freshman. He finished second in the ACC in 3-point percentage, and it was the fifth-highest mark of any freshman in program history.

He is considered a mid-to-late first-round pick despite an uneven campaign. His shooting from beyond the arc will certainly stand out, but Whitehead showed he can be a three-level scorer at the next level and put up points in a hurry.

Though Whitehead hasn’t been able to participate in any pre-draft workouts, the 6-foot-7 forward has met and interviewed with teams in his range ahead of the draft.

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Brooklyn Nets projected to take Dariq Whitehead with 21st overall pick

Dariq Whitehead could be a Brooklyn Net come the 2023 NBA Draft later this month according to Bleacher Report.

The Brooklyn Nets have the 21st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22 and with that pick, Brooklyn could select a player who can make an impact for the team next season. Bleacher Report projects the Nets to take Duke’s Dariq Whitehead with the pick.

Whitehead, 18, played forward for the Blue Devils after coming into the 2022-23 season as a five-star recruit from Montverde Academy. Whitehead, 6’7″ and 220 pounds, played 28 games for Duke (seven starts) and averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. Whitehead is an interesting prospect to ponder given the fact that he has potential to contribute on both ends of the floor, but has seen his stock fall due to the issues that he’s having with his foot.

The native of Newark, NJ can bring more wing depth to the Nets despite the fact that Brooklyn has enough wings on the team already. However, assuming that the team can find trade partners for Dorian Finney-Smith and/or Royce O’Neale, Whitehead could be a part of next season’s rotation given his ability to shoot the ball (42.9% from three-point land). Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had to say about Whitehead:

“Whitehead will have a tough time rising up boards after another foot surgery that limits his workout opportunities. But a promising medical report could also help scouts re-picture the scoring wing at Montverde whose creation and shot-making development fueled top-five hype entering the season.”

Here’s a video breakdown of Whitehead’s talents by Adam Spinella:

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: 58 projections after the early entry withdrawal deadline

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline.

The NBA pre-draft process crossed another important checkpoint on the schedule with the early entry withdrawal deadline coming and going this week.

Prospects had the opportunity to test the waters and meet with teams to gain feedback on their potential draft stock. To maintain their remaining college eligibility, they had to withdraw from consideration by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The deadline saw several potential second-round picks withdraw from the draft and return to school. With name, image and likeness playing a prevalent role in college basketball, players were likely swayed to stay one more year to work on their games and capitalize financially.

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The 2024 draft is also projected to be weaker than in past years, which also may have played a role in some players opting against turning pro. They likely believe they will have a greater chance of being a first-round pick next year.

With several players off the board, teams can prioritize workouts and interviews with those individuals remaining in the draft. As a result, players’ stock will continue to fluctuate with less than three weeks to go until the draft.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline. Team needs were taken into consideration for these picks.

What players do mocks see the Boston Celtics taking in the 2023 NBA draft?

Take a look at a sampling of recent NBA mock drafts to see what the experts are projecting Boston to take.

With the NBA’s draft lottery for this season now firmly behind us, the folks who make a living trying to project what the Boston Celtics and the other 29 teams in the league are going to do at the 2023 NBA draft. And with that draft lottery comes a bit of certainty for the Celtics in terms of where they will be picking in the second round.

Boston had made moves last offseason to use their first round pick for this year’s big event on a trade, getting back a set of complex pick protections that ensured that they would be selecting only in the second round. Now, with the draft lottery done, the second-rounder Boston will use falls No. 35 overall courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Let’s take a look at a sampling of recent NBA mock drafts to see what the experts are projecting Boston to take.

2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The latest projections after the draft lottery

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the lottery.

The order of the 2023 NBA draft was decided this week by the lottery, and the San Antonio Spurs received the No. 1 pick for the third time in franchise history.

Of course, that means the Spurs will have the first opportunity to select 7-foot-4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama. They are apparently the team he had his sights set on, and he will now likely look to continue his basketball journey in San Antonio.

Elsewhere, Charlotte and Portland made jumps in their lottery positioning, and they now have more options to consider on draft night. Detroit dropped the furthest from No. 1 by virtue of having the worst record to No. 5.

With the order set, teams will ramp up their draft preparations.

This week, the league converged in Chicago for the G League Elite Camp and draft combine. Though many prospects skipped the 5-on-5 scrimmages and other testing, several seemingly helped themselves with great showings on the court.

Teams will continue to prioritize seeing those individuals that declared as early entrants since the deadline for them to return to school is May 31. Several prospects will have tough decisions to make in the coming days but should have more clarity after the combine.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the lottery. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Report: Projected first-rounder Dariq Whitehead to undergo a second foot surgery

The former Duke freshman will reportedly undergo a second foot procedure to correct a previous surgery from last August.

Former Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead will reportedly undergo a second foot procedure to correct a previous surgery, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Whitehead missed the first four games of last season after undergoing surgery on the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in August. He managed to play 28 games with the Blue Devils but the bone did not heal properly, prompting a second surgery.

The 18-year-old recently met with multiple foot specialists to determine the severity of the injury. He decided, in consultation with his representation at Excel Sports Management, that a second surgery was necessary.

He is expected to be ready to play at the start of next season.

Whitehead averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and one assist on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range. He finished second in the ACC in 3-point percentage, and it was the fifth-highest mark of any freshman in program history.

The 6-foot-7 forward is considered a mid-to-late first-round pick despite an uneven campaign. His shooting from beyond the arc will certainly stand out, but Whitehead showed he can be a three-level scorer at the next level and put up points in a hurry.

Whitehead is still expected to meet with teams at the draft combine on May 15-21 in Chicago, Illinois. Though he will not be able to participate in pre-draft workouts, he likely showed enough at Duke to hear his name called in the first round on June 22.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projections for every pick post-March Madness

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the NCAA Tournament.

The NBA pre-draft process is in full swing as prospects around the world prepare to transition to the next level.

Teams around the league will begin hosting private workouts in the coming weeks as they finalize their draft boards. There will be various pro days on the radar and, of course, the draft combine and G League Elite Camp next month in Chicago, Illinois.

Underclassmen have until April 23 to declare for the draft. Several notable players have already decided to return to school, including Kyle Filipowski, Harrison Ingram, Baylor Scheierman and Kel’el Ware. Others are still mulling over their decisions.

Related: Key dates for NBA draft, combine, lottery and deadlines

With players still in the process of making decisions, some prospects were excluded from this mock draft because they are projected to return to school next season. However, most players projected to be drafted have already announced their decisions.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the NCAA Tournament. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of April 14. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and 76ers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.

Duke freshman is ‘one and done’ as he declares for NBA draft

Dariq Whitehead declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday.

While Duke received a boost when Tyrese Proctor announced he would return, they weren’t as fortunate with freshman Dariq Whitehead.

On Wednesday he announced that he would be heading to the next level and declaring for the 2023 NBA draft. Whitehead appeared in 28 games for the Blue Devils with seven starts. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game this past season.

The Tennessee Vols eliminated Whitehead and Duke in the second round, 65-52. His best game came against Boston College where Whitehead scored 18 points with three rebounds and two assists.

“I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support this past year,” Whitehead tweeted. “Through the ups and downs, I’m beyond grateful for the love and encouragement you all have shown me throughout my time in Durham. I would not have made it to this point without the man above, and the incredible support of family, teammates, coaches, and fans. I cannot thank you enough for the foundation you have given me as I pursue my dreams at the next level. I will always be a Blue Devil. With that being said, I’m thrilled to take the next step in my career by declaring for the 2023 NBA draft and continuing representation with Excel Sports Management. ”

The 6-foot-7-inch forward becomes the latest Duke player to bounce after one season, and the first under new head coach Jon Scheyer. The NBA draft will take place on Thursday, Jun. 22.

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Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead will forgo eligibility and enter NBA draft

Whitehead averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and one assist on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range in 28 games.

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead announced Wednesday on social media that he will forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2023 NBA draft.

Whitehead averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and one assist on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range in 28 games. He finished second in the ACC in 3-point percentage as it was the fifth-highest mark of any freshman in program history.

He missed the first four games of the season due to a foot injury and another four games because of a leg sprain. He started a bit slowly, but settled in and scored in double figures eight times in 11 games from Dec. 10-Feb. 18. He averaged 11.1 points in that span.

The 6-foot-7 forward is considered a mid-to-late first-round pick despite an uneven campaign. His shooting from beyond the arc will certainly stand out, but Whitehead showed he can be a three-level scorer at the next level and put up points in a hurry.

Whitehead arrived at Duke as the No. 2 prospect in his class and was the top player at his position. Though injuries prevented him from living up to his potential, Whitehead still figures to be a high-level draft prospect and should be in the mix to be a first-rounder on June 22.

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