[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Dariq Whitehead
Frame: 6’7″, 220 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: Duke
Year: Freshman
2023 Draft Age: 18
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Whitehead is a long-range sniper that hit 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts in his freshman campaign. He’s the prototype of a tough shot maker and can do damage shooting off the dribble or in catch-and-shoot situations.

The 2021 No. 1 overall high school recruit made a name for himself with explosive athleticism and a smooth jumper. He also proved himself with a high IQ.

His 2.9 assists per 100 possessions don’t jump off the page, butut there is no denying his ability to see the floor and make the right decision with the ball more often than not. That’s a rarity for someone who will have just turned 19 when he makes his NBA debut.

A series of lower leg injuries throughout the 2022-23 season hampered his ability to get by defenders. He still managed to be effective with his jumper, but he struggled to score in the paint without a go-to blow-by move. He shot 41.4 percent from inside the three-point line, taking almost as many threes as he did twos.

He’ll need to improve as a ball-handler regardless of whether or not his athleticism returns to its pre-foot-injury form.

Defense

Where Whitehead’s high basketball IQ truly stands out is on the defensive end. He is quick to get to passing lanes and was a standout help defender both in high school and college.

Whitehead has a 6’9″ wingspan that allows him to help both on the perimeter in pick-and-roll situations and the paint. He should be able to impact defensively at the NBA level immediately.

But Whitehead could still stand to improve as an on-ball defender. Before the lower leg injuries, he could rely on athleticism to keep him in front of opposing wings.

If he cannot regain that step, he’ll need to adjust how he faces up against some of the NBA’s plentiful elite wings. But with his wingspan and feel for the game, his floor is still a solid defensive player.

Looking Ahead

There was a time that Whitehead was seen as the best young prospect in the country and was a surefire lottery pick. Injuries have played a role in why he may be chosen later in the draft, perhaps in the late teens to 20s. But Whitehead could be the steal of the draft, especially with three-and-D wings becoming one of the league’s most valuable commodities.

And if Whitehead can get back some of the pop that defined his game in high school, there’s no telling what his NBA ceiling could be.