Dariq Whitehead is one of the top wing prospects available in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft. The small forward/shooting guard was a star in high school, although he struggled in his lone season at Duke. A string of injuries can be to blame, but the 18-year-old still has the potential to be a two-way threat in the league.
Dariq Whitehead 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Before becoming a Blue Devil, Whitehead developed into a five-star recruit at Montverde Academy. He was known for his explosiveness, athleticism, physicality, and being a dominant all-around player. The wing won multiple awards during his high school career, including 2022 Naismith High School Player of the Year, 2022 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, and 2022 McDonald’s All-American Game MVP. He also helped lead his team to back-to-back national championships. In his senior year, Whitehead averaged 17.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.4 APG.
The six-foot-seven wing later committed to Duke over offers from the G League, Kansas, Florida State, Texas, and more. Ranked the number one prospect in his class by Rivals.com and considered to be a lottery pick at the time, Whitehead was expected to have a phenomenal freshman year. However, he fractured his right foot in August 2022 during a team practice and needed surgery. He would then miss the start of the season and encounter more injuries throughout the year.
Whitehead’s success in high school didn’t fully translate to college, and he was never able to find his rhythm. His level of athleticism, speed, and burst declined at Duke, averaging just 8.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 1.4 TOV across 28 games. He would later suffer a lower leg injury in January and underwent a second foot surgery in early May. The operation was deemed necessary as the first procedure didn’t properly heal. While he’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, injury concerns may impact his draft stock.
Strengths
Despite a challenging season riddled with injuries, Whitehead showcased his capabilities as a shooter. He’s been lights out from three-point range and converted a team-best 42.9% of those attempts. The wing is also an effective mid-range scorer. Overall, he shot an efficient 42.1% from the floor this season. Whitehead especially thrives in catch-and-shoot opportunities and pull-ups. He has a high release and can create space using a side-step move. He also seems to be unfazed by closeouts and can make difficult shots even with a hand in his face. His confidence and hot shooting established him as a reliable bench contributor for Duke. Offensively, he also offers decent playmaking and decision-making skills thanks to his court vision and IQ. While he struggles with finishing, the wing is a good cutter and has had some success on drives.
On the other end of the court, Whitehead is a strong defender with plenty of upside. He’s versatile and can defend multiple positions thanks to his strength and six-foot-10 wingspan. Oftentimes he’ll use his lateral quickness and physicality to keep his assignment in front. His length and active hands also helps him recover and cut off passing lanes.
Weaknesses
The wing’s most notable weaknesses are his athleticism and finishing, which declined following his foot injury. In college, it seemed that most of his explosiveness and driving abilities were sapped from high school. With Duke, Whitehead was inefficient near the rim and struggled to make shots after contact. His lack of aggressiveness and bounce also impacted his rebounding. At times he could also be turnover prone, holding a 0.7 AST/TOV ratio.
Defensively he lacks consistency and discipline. He’s had multiple lapses and struggled to navigate screens, failing to coordinate with defenders on switches. Oftentimes his teammates have bailed him out of situations after breakdowns. Sometimes his reaction was delayed and he was slow to recover.
Finally, there are lingering injury concerns after Whitehead underwent two foot surgeries in less than a year. There is also uncertainty surrounding how the second operation fixed his lack of athleticism and burst. And, future foot injuries could make teams uneasy about drafting him early.
NBA Player Comparisons
Whitehead’s new role as a 3-and-D threat with Duke resembles Harrison Barnes and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. His lack of driving and instead settling for outside jump shots parallels Barnes. They even share similar issues with committing numerous turnovers, but are still decent playmakers. Like Caldwell-Pope, Whitehead relies on distance shots but is efficient in converting them. Both also share a strong defensive IQ and are exceptional perimeter defenders. Finally, the prospect also compares to Bradley Beal. While the two have a history of injuries, they are remarkable two-way players. They are extremely athletic and explosive when fully healthy but are also reliable jump shooters.
NBA Draft Projection
Late first-round pick.
