Dariq Miller Whitehead is in his first season at Duke, showing his talents as a premier forward. Whitehead during his collegiate debut showed the possibility of great play making, rarely does an athlete like Whitehead display such dexterity (and decision making) for his 16 minutes.
Whitehead, who grew up in New Jersey, has experience playing hoops at the top level for many years. His transition from college and potentially to the NBA should be less difficult compared to many of his counterparts.
Last season he displayed a distinct fusion of explosiveness and size, making him perhaps the best player in his high school class of 2022. During his senior year, Whitehead was the 2022 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year. An award well earned due to his ability to outplay his opponents during the games.
Whitehead also helped Montverde to the 2022 Geico Nationals Championship during his Senior year, and the team performed admirably in the title game.
Star power hasn’t run short in his family as for the last ten years. Tahir Whitehead, his brother, has played as a linebacker in the NFL. The Duke wing had started to follow in the footsteps of his older brother as he also excelled in football until deciding to devote his time only to basketball.
Those abilities earned Whitehead the number two ranked player on the ESPN 100, right behind fellow Duke signee, Dereck Lively.
He is extremely confident and each time he steps onto the court, he is mentally prepared to compete on the largest platform.
Playing for one of the best institutions in the nation, Whitehead represented Montverde Academy. Whitehead had the opportunity to play with current NBA players and stars such as Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Moses Moody, DayRon Sharpe, and RJ Barrett as an underclassman.
In his first season, Whitehead is averaging six and a half points translating to 36% shooting as well as two rebounds.
Whitehead missed Duke’s last game against the unranked Wake Forest. Without Whitehead on the court, Duke fell to their in-conference rival Demon Deacons 81-70.
During the last game Whitehead played, he scored 15 points while shooting 42% from the floor. As he also dished out two assists as well as two rebounds. This play allowed the 14th-ranked Blue Devils to score an 82-55 over Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks.
Whitehead is a potential top-10 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. With his skill set, he has a potential to land everywhere in the top 10.
Duke’s next game is against unranked Florida State on New Years’ Eve. Whitehead looks to return to the court and help Duke to another conference win to improve their record to 11-3 and 2-1 in conference.
Whitehead will now try to accomplish the same in what will probably be his first and only season of collegiate basketball at Duke as the NBA draft will approach and determine his future.
