NBA Draft: Dariq Whitehead to Undergo Second Foot Surgery
Duke one-and-done Dariq Whitehead is expected to undergo a second right foot surgery ahead of the NBA Draft process, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi. He is expected to be fully recovered before the start of the 2023-24 NBA regular season.
A projected first rounder in the 2023 NBA Draft, Whitehead underwent surgery on his fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot back in August. Per Wojnarowksi, he met with several foot specialists to determine if the second procedure would be necessary to properly repair the injury.
Once thought of as the top collegiate prospect in basketball, Whitehead had a shaky season at Duke due to various factors, one including his preseason injury.
A Montverde Academy graduate, Whitehead averaged just 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 steals while shooting 42 percent overall and 43 percent from beyond the arc in 28 games for Duke. But Whitehead, who got a late start on the year, was clearly never fully in rhythm or comfortable.
The second procedure will certainly have implications for some teams on his draft stock, which right now ranges anywhere from the end of the lottery to the late-first round.
Some teams will see a second foot surgery in less than a year as injury risk. Others will note that Whitehead might not have been able to show his full capabilities in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
Regardless, Whitehead will assuredly still hear his name called on draft night 2023 due to his upside as a potential two-way wing with premier outside ability.
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