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Mock Draft Has Another Duke Basketball One-And-Done Joining Hawks

The Hawks have selected a former Duke basketball player two years in a row.
Matt Giles|
Mock Draft Has Another Duke Basketball One-And-Done Joining Hawks
Mock Draft Has Another Duke Basketball One-And-Done Joining Hawks

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Duke Blue Devils

Despite news last week of Dariq Whitehead having to miss on-court workouts at next week's NBA Combine in Chicago due to right foot surgery, the Duke basketball talent has not yet seen a noticeable drop in his stock, at least not in the eyes of mock drafts.

On the contrary, the latest mock draft courtesy of NBC Sports, which came out on Monday, projects Whitehead to come off the board at the June 22 NBA Draft earlier than most other mock drafts have predicted in recent weeks. It has the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward going No. 15 — the first non-lottery pick — to the Atlanta Hawks.

If that happened, it would mark the third straight year that the Hawks have selected a one-and-done out of Durham. Last year, they snagged AJ Griffin with the No. 16 overall pick. And in 2021, they went with Jalen Johnson at No. 20.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Considering the Hawks' head coach is now former Blue Devil Quin Snyder, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the franchise load up on even more Duke basketball products.

As for the other Blue Devil looking to hear his name in the first round this go-round, NBC Sports has Dereck Lively II at No. 26 to the Indiana Pacers (via the Cleveland Cavaliers), significantly lower than the 7-foot-1, 230-pound center sits on most recent mock drafts.

Another recently updated mock draft, this one from USA TODAY's Bryan Kalbrosky, has Dariq Whitehead going No. 19 overall to the Golden State Warriors and Dereck Lively II going No. 20 to the Houston Rockets (via the Los Angeles Clippers).

The Blue Devils have produced at least one first-round pick two years in a row. And 2020, when Vernon Carey Jr., Tre Jones, and Cassius Stanley all went in the second round, was the only instance without a first-rounder from Duke in the past 12 years.

Whitehead and Lively are the only Blue Devils likely to hear their names in either round this year.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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