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Dariq Whitehead Coverage

The 2023 draft was also historic for first-year head coach Jon Scheyer, who saw his first two draft picks as the Blue Devils' head coach. Duke has now produced 22 first-round picks since Scheyer joined the coaching staff in 2013-14.



Duke's Lively, Whitehead picked in first round of NBA Draft

Victor Wembanyama Drafted No. 1 Overall by San Antonio Spurs

ESPN analyst Chris Spatola breaks how Duke's Dariq Whitehead's game will translate to the NBA.

>> WRAL SPORTS STARTS NOW. WANTED BY EASTER AUTOMOTIVE. >> DUKE STORY QUITE HEAD IS COMING OFF OF HIS SECOND SURGERY IN LESS THAN A YEAR, BUT IS STILL EXPECTED TO BE CHOSEN IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THURSDAY'S NBA DRAFT. CHRIS LEE SPOKE TO ESPN COLLEGE BASKETBALL ANALYST CHRIS SPLIT HOLA. WHO EXPLAINS WHY WHITEHEAD WAS BENEFIT FROM ANOTHER YEAR OR 2? >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTED THAT HE WOULD SHOOT 42% FROM 3. THIS SEASON. HE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A SLAP SHOT. >> AND SO LIKE THIS IS HE DOES ANYBODY SEE HIM AS A 42% SHOOTER IN THE NBA? I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE HIM AS THAT YET. I SEE HIM MORE AS THE PLAYER THAT WE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE COMING. IT. >> THAT SLASHER. THAT ATHLETE. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF STUFF THAT I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO ASK OR WANT TO RE QUITE HAD TO DO THAT. I THINK HE'S STILL TOO YOUNG TO TO TO FULLY EMBRACE TO FULLY WORK AT. >> AND THEN ULTIMATELY YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD EVER GET THERE JUST BASED OFF HIS

Can Dariq Whitehead be an NBA-level shooter?

Forward Dariq Whitehead announced on Twitter Wednesday that he would declare for the NBA Draft after a single season at Duke.

SOMETIMES 20 HAHA. >> YOU KNOW, PLAYERS GETTING PAID FOR NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS IS LIKELY KEEPING SOME AROUND LIKE UNC IS ARMANDO BACOT THE ONE AND DONE ROUTE IS STILL PREVALENT AND ONE DUKE STAR JUST SAID IS GOODBYE. AFTER ONLY ONE SEASON, FRESHMAN DARIQ WHITEHEAD. IT'S HEADED TO THE NBA. NOW. HIS SEASON DIDN'T HAVE THE IMPACT. MANY EXPECTED BECAUSE OF VARIOUS INJURIES HE HAD TO FIGHT THROUGH. BUT WHITEHEAD WAS A 43%. 3 POINT SHOOTER WHEN HE PLAYED. SO THE TALENT IS THERE, WHICH IS WHY JOB IS FROM 9 TO 9, 9, TO FAN SAYS THAT THIS DEPARTURE SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE. >> BUT I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING LIKE, WELL, WHAT DID WE SEE FROM DERRICK WHITE HAD THIS SEASON WITH THE INJURIES AND THE ROLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT. NOW SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST THE ARRANGEMENT. YEAH. TO PLAY ONE YEAR COLLEGE. HELP ELEVATE YOUR PROFILE LITTLE BIT. SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN TAKE IT AND YOU'RE OUT. I EXPECT THE SAME THING WITH DUKE AND ERIC LIVE WITH. THESE ARE NOT SURPRISE TYRESE. PROCTOR MAKE SENSE SEAT IN TOWN FOR THE PAST. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING OFFICIAL FROM KYLE FILIPOWSKI OTHER THAN THAT. HE RETWEETED TYRESE PROCTOR WITH YEAH, BABY. AND OH JEEZ THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PAST IS COMING BACK. BUT WHITEHEAD AND LIVELY ALSO MAKES SENSE. THEY WOULD GO TO THE NBA AFTER ONE SEES THAT ALWAYS SEEM TO BE PARDONED.

Dariq Whitehead declares for NBA Draft after one season at Duke

Dariq Whitehead will leave Duke, declare for NBA Draft

NCAA Oral Roberts Duke Basketball

"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Louis Fernandez and Mark Bergin discuss the Duke Blue Devils' loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Plus Duke future, Sweet Sixteen matchups, and who looks poised to win a title.

WRAL Triangle and Two: Duke's season ends after loss to Tennessee, March Madness chaos

WRAL Triangle and Two

First-year head coach Jon Scheyer proved he can make NBA talent play cohesively to an ACC title, but can he do it again? Pat Welter explains what's next for the Blue Devils after a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament.

TEAMS. COMING SEASON. >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT WITH THE SECOND ROUND GAMES STILL BEING PLAYED AS WE SPEAK. AND BOY, WE'RE PUTTING A BOW ON THE SEASON THAT WAS RIGHT HERE IN THE TRIANGLE, BUT SAYS HERE WE ARE AND WE'LL START WITH DUKE. A TEAM THAT HAD BEEN PLAYING ITS BEST BASKETBALL OF THE SEASON BEFORE RUNNING INTO TENNESSEE YESTERDAY WHO ABSOLUTELY MANHANDLED THE BLUE DEVILS PUTTING INTO WHAT WAS OTHERWISE A GREAT SEASON UNDER FIRST YEAR. HEAD COACH JOHN SHY WRAL'S PAT WELTER LOOKS AHEAD. WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BLUE DEVILS? >> CASEY ROUND OF 32 EXIT DOESN'T FEEL JUST FOR THIS SPECIAL SEASON THAT THEY'RE JUST HAD. BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE RIGHT INTO A TENNESSEE TEAM WHO PLAYED A PERFECT GAME? NOW, THE BIGGEST THING, JOHN SHARP PROVE THIS SEASON AS HE CAN GET A GROUP OF NBA PROSPECTS, THE SACRIFICE STATS FOR WAYS NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THERE CURRENTLY IS THE SECOND RANKED RECRUITING CLASS FOR 5, 5 STARS COMMIT NOW BASED ON HIS DRAFT PROJECTION OF THE WAY WAS TALKING AFTER THE GAME. I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY 3 WHITEHEAD IS GOING. >> I ALSO THINK THEY'RE LIKELY TO AS WELL, 4 POUNDS. HE IS A BIG QUESTION. MARK HERE AS TALENTED AND VERSATILE AS HE IS. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS 3 POINT SHOOTING AND DEFENSIVE VERSATILITY PERSONALLY. I THINK HE'S UNDERRATED TO THE MOCK DRAFT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE A LOTTERY

Pat Welter: Jon Scheyer proved he can coach

Dariq Whitehead on Duke's loss to Tennessee

Really just the way we trust each other. You know, I feel like after the game, we lost about 27, Miami and Miami, you know, from New York, something just clicked with us and, you know, we continued to, you know, we started to, you know, really together, you know, everything we started to do is, you know, together, we started to believe in each other a lot more and just, you know, we started to just look to the guys to our left and our right and realize that, you know, you don't got to do it on your own, you know. So we started just trusting each other a lot more and that changed the way our season started moving. I say for sure, you know, a lot of things, you know, we've been a lot of injuries. I battled too. He, you know, injury coming in early in the year. But, you know, it just taught us, you know how to overcome avers. You know, I feel like coming in if, if it wasn't for this injury, you know, God willing, you know, telling what would have happened in the next stage. You know, I wouldn't know how to overcome it. So I feel like this was a place that, you know, the coaching staff, the staff here and they just helped me overcome a lot of things that, you know, I'm forever cherish and, you know, going to my life, Like with different countries. Um but, you know, what kind of, uh, you know, like I said, hats off to them, they were a very physical team, they came out, they were prepared, you know, you could tell that they scouted very well. So hats off to them. Like I said, I feel like they're a top 10 team and I feel like we were a top, but we just got out play tonight. So I feel like, you know, we gotta, you know, put our heads down, hang our hat to them and just, you know, continue to keep working when it comes down to time period and just gave up. But just knowing that this is gonna be my last time playing with my brothers. That was the main thing just knowing that, you know, all the stuff we've been through this year, you know, that's the only thing that went to my mind just that everything we've been through this year, all the adversity we had to go through, everybody saying he was too young wasn't gonna be here. You know, it was just a, you know, a bittersweet moment really. It was a huge role. I feel like he's a huge success to our, the team that we started to, you know, gel into towards the end of the season. So, you know, for him to be out, you know, really, you know, it played a, he was role in that, but like I said, you know, everyone's here for a reason. I feel like we had to go next man up. He told us, you know, before, before the game that he wasn't going to be out there. So we just had to, you know, all come together and just figure it out. Um He was, yes, he definitely would have been switched on to him a lot and I would have been going to James. But, you know, like I said, I feel like, you know, all our guys were more than capable of guarding the guys out there and like I said, it has often.

Whitehead: 'They're a top 10 team, we're a top 10 team, we just got out-played tonight'

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead addresses the media before the Blue Devils begin NCAA Tournament play in Orlando.

no worries at all. So first off, I wanna just initial feelings, I mean, this is the first time being a part of the NCAA tournament. Uh What are your feelings that you have about saying, you know, coming into, you know, you never know what to expect being a freshman, but, you know, confident, you know, you get to see what goes on. My teammates is very confident right now. So I'm just looking forward to having a great March madness and, you know, making a run at this thing. You guys feel like you were slighted a little bit being a five seed and not going to Greensborough or anything like that. Is that something you guys even talked about? I mean, it's something we talk about but it's not something, you know, we're too much worried on. I feel like, you know, set out for us, whoever we play, you know, that's what we have to play. So we're willing to come in and, you know, prepare for anybody. So we just got to get to the next step and, you know, playing a good or Robbers team tomorrow. Eventually, I'm sure we all would have wanted to be in Greensboro. But, you know, we, we got in Orlando, we got to get it done. What's the difference in this last month? Uh for you guys in the, in the, in the street you guys have been on versus the couple of months prior to that. Uh. I feel like it's just how together we are, you know, sharing the ball the way we've been, we're making extra passengers believing in each other this past month has been like, you know, like no other, you know, this team that we have this year is like a team like, you know, just how close we are, you know, it's rare to see just how much we hang together off the court. So really, it just, it came with making extra passengers believe in each other once we started to believe in each other and things started to pick up for us there. Strongest Fine March Madness memories, Like growing up watching the tournament, big games or Duke players or moments or anything like that. I about to say, uh I grew up, yeah, I'm not gonna believe this, but I'm about to say I actually grow, grow growing up. I kind of kept in tune with just jersey guys. So I'm about to say growing, I was huge on football. So I say I kept in tune with a lot of Jersey guys. So I can't, you know, definitely say if I can remember my one favorite, you know, memory from March. Do you remember the 2015 team or whatever? For sure. I say I definitely remember memories from watching that team. But you said, you know, in terms of like favorite memory,

Whitehead: I'm sure we all wanted to be in Greensboro

Dariq Whitehead

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead addresses the media after the Blue Devils win the ACC Tournament.

OK, I do wanna ask you is the case closed. No, thank you. Can I get a couple of questions with you? You just won the AC C championship man as a freshman. What's going through your mind? How about say it's great. You know, we had a lot of, you know, a lot of up and down this year through a lot of adversity. You know, we, we continued to stick together, you know, we continue to trust each other and make the extra pass and we started to click at the right time. Heading into NCAA tournament. You guys won nine straight. You're the hottest team in the country. I mean, what was the key to that turnaround? Really just trusting each other once we start to trust each other and realize that everybody was here for a reason. That's when we started to click, you know, in the beginning of the year, we had a lot of guys trying to do it on their own. And once we started to get the hang and trust each other, that's when everything started to click. What can you say about the faith you guys all showed in John Shire in his first season at Duke? How about say he believed in us? So we believed in him, you know, we had to come here and he told us we got, we got our back. So we had to make sure we had his back in his first year. We knew he was under a lot of pressure. So we just had to help him cope with that. And that's what we did and we're gonna continue to do that is the AC C championship. Just the beginning. That's just the beginning, you know, and if we got to get back to it starting Monday. You know, we got to win the NCAA tournament.

Whitehead: '(Scheyer) believed in us, so we believed in him'

Leaky black reflects on his career ahead of regular-season finale against Duke.

Good, How you doing? Good to see you guys. Hello, how you doing? Good to see you sir. Well your last home game saturday. I love you kind of take us through your time here. Some of the things that, so there's some seminal moments you chose player. Yeah, well off the top of my head, just like a lot of growing pains, honestly, like it's been a bumpy road man, but you know, just looking back, you know, I feel like adversity just makes you grow up a lot faster, you know, you would like to in most cases and all I can think about is just like my, my sophomore year, you know, freshman, um, Mondo and cole's freshman year, you know, that whole year was just like, you know, I feel like that's, um, the year I grew up the most and uh, just from finding out who I really am, you know, uh looking back, I'm just grateful for my time here going for you because you were challenged losing, but also yeah, right. And uh, I mean, I feel like this is the player I've always been, you know, um I feel like you guys know, I was recruited to play point guard, I grew up playing point guard my entire life and uh, just my size and length, this gives me the tools, you know, be moving around a little bit, you know, whatever the team needs kind of thing. And yeah, that part I didn't really have a problem with, but definitely the losing was completely new to me. Yeah, Lindi, you've been, take care of this program. Thank you. Um, I mean, I appreciate it. I didn't know that, but I appreciate it. You know, really, I just try to lead by example, you know, a lot of guys know I'm not really vocal unless I'm like, you know, trying to cut them out or anything. But uh really like I said, it's hard lead by example and you know, I just want to win. Like, like I said, go back to myself in my year. That was one of the toughest years of my life, but I'm grateful that that year happened just because this made me into the person that I am today and I just value winning so much. I'm, you know, just willing to do whatever it takes to win. And uh, I feel like these guys see that and I guess that's kind of why I'm the anchor, I guess going back to last year, you talked about having some anxiety. Yeah. Uh well actually, um, it's funny, Doug was showing me pictures of my freshman year, um, literally yesterday and uh, there's one particular workout with coach rob that um, we were trying to figure out what was going on my thumb when really it was my anxiety taking over. I couldn't feel like my arms anything. We thought it was like, I just came out the weight room, we didn't know what was going on and uh, you know, it's just as time went by, I eventually met Jackie man. It's definitely a tough job, but I mean I wouldn't be against it at all. Oh yeah. Oh my God man, before your expert stories, I can't say anything like specific because I already told them a couple stories. They said I can't say that. So, But yeah, I'm gonna leave it at that. They were very mature and I used to be an angry person. You know, I used to be kind of straightforward and direct with them because you know, cole, he was grew up rich, you know, he got everything he wanted, you know what I mean? So it's like needless to say he's like, I didn't like that like that at all. So yeah, I let him know how I felt. Um, I still see it a little bit, he's still a big kid man, I swear. But he has, he has changed a lot. I tell garrison and you know, be robbing every these guys come back like how proud they would be of Armando for him growing up and you know, doing some things that he, I used to complain about worrying about when he was in, uh, when he was a freshman. So yeah, I'm really proud of him. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Right. Um, well believe it or not, I felt like the change coming, you know, I felt us, you know, actually carrying a little bit more and I felt like, you know, I felt the potential building up and building up, but um you know, all throughout the year, I would have some games where I would play, like, great, didn't really get the recognition kind of thing. And Miss Leslie along with Big May and a couple of other coaches, there was just, you know, just kind of just everyday kind of tell me that they would love to have me back and I wasn't really thinking about coming back, but you know, to hear somebody say that they want you back, obviously, you know, moved me in a in a touching way I guess, and going to that senior night, I was just, I knew I was coming back, you know, that's why I said that, so it wasn't really a senior night, but like I knew I was coming back, but um I guess saturday would be my true senior night. Yeah, that's why it took me so long to answer that because I'm trying to start to think about it, it's really hit me a little bit. So um you know, like I said, just us, Karen, you know, um I talked to a lot of people, a lot of older people, um you know, like Danny Green, um you know, I talked to a lot of guys and uh they're just telling us how biggest problems we look like we don't care on tv and I promise you we do, but like just getting that emotion out of different guys, it's different, you know, I mean, it's difficult, you know brady, he was he was a hothead so it wasn't hard to get it out of him, but you know it's just it's a different group of guys and it's just as soon as we start to care about winning and like nothing else, you know, that's when we really turned the corner and I felt like with our back against the wall this last two weeks or whatever, you know, feel like it's a different team out there. Yeah, looser maybe body. Mhm Yeah, 100%. Um I said uh but get another year when we were number one, you know we had like a team meeting, we were winning but it was kind of ugly, you know, and everyone started talking or whatever and I was just in the meeting, I was just like we just gotta you know block out all the noise and just you know, just just try to play stress free. But I mean it's difficult when you number one have all this Sports illustrated stuff going on. So now it's just we really have no choice but to play stress free at this point. So it's just a matter of just having fun while we're out there, you know when that's pretty much it Mhm Thank you uh super important, you know that's really one of the biggest reasons why I came back, you know, just to show that I really have more in the tank that I really believe in, that after four years, you know, I haven't really got the opportunity to show. But yeah, I'm just grateful to get my name out there a little bit. So against florida state, it seemed like you were purposely more aggressive. Yeah. Um, just try not to lose, you know? Um, I think I got to the free throw line a little bit a little early earlier into the game and that kind of helped me see the ball go in and you know, obviously the way that they would play us, they were pressure. So the driving lanes were open, it was just easy to make the, you know, just the right play, you know, get by your defender or whatever and um, it was nothing really specific but just getting out of my own head and just playing, you know, and that's just what it was man, it's different for everyone, you know? But me personally is just remembering at the end of the day is basketball, you know, and it's been my dream. You know, we all think about the next step and where we want to be down the line instead of just like realizing where we are and appreciate what we have. Um, like I said, you know, just us acting like we care about winning, you know, just been trying to get that out this whole year and um, you know, I tell the guys all the time, you can't just play defense when your shots going in, you know, you gotta hang your hat on something and if your shot's not going in, what you're gonna do to contribute, you know, and um playing defense and you know, just doing little things, diving on the floor, like puff, he's always down on the floor, you get all bruised up and stuff. He's just wild out there, but we joke about it all the time, but like, you know, he's doing what he can to help us win, you know, and that's the stuff you love to see probably the last time. Uh Derek, he's playing saturday. Okay. You also, they say that what are your, what are your personal and team goals ahead of your last home game and your last get the win? Uh I wanted to be a real nasty win. Um, you know, I just want to have fun. I want Caleb to talk his junk, you know, mono to talk to the fans, whatever it is, you know, I just want to win. So I just was ready to play saturday.

Leaky Black: "I want it to be a really nasty win"

Leaky Black

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead will miss Saturday night's Battle of the Blues.

Duke's Dariq Whitehead to miss UNC game

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead will not play this Saturday at Georgia Tech, but according to coach Jon Scheyer, the injury Whitehead suffered Monday at Virginia Tech is not season-ending.

Scheyer: Whitehead's injury not season-ending but will not play Saturday

Duke players Dariq Whitehead and Ryan Young address the media before the Blue Devils' game at NC State.

Erica Ryan. Yeah. What was like for you to get back playing again after being out being sick and uh do you feel like you're up to full speed and what you need to do, I definitely feel like, you know, as a team we're you know, coach is putting in a lot of things to make sure you guys get comfortable with each other. You know, me and Derek being out, you know, the main thing is just getting comfortable with each other in practice, making sure, you know, we gel with the guys, we've missed a lot of time. So I feel like that's just what we're trying to do right now. You mentioned in the preseason that when Jason came down and spoke to you about taking your time, don't rush anything basically that helps you sort of mentally process everything. Where'd you say you're at the mental recovery process? Do you fully trust everything or you still getting to that point? Where would you say? Uh And I can say I'm 100%. I feel like I'm trusting it more and more. Originally when I first came back, you know, certain things like landing on it, I was scared to do, but right now and I would say, you know, everything's fine. Back in september, I asked you if it was in your D. N. A. To be the alpha, the the the take over down the stretch guy. You said it was has anything that's happened since then you agree with the foot injury at the time, but still the long layoff, the illness has anything changed that part of your D. N. A. Uh I mean that's just like you said being a part of who I am but the way the team has been telling it's just you know me trying to come in and make sure I contribute to winning. You know, at the end of the day, nothing more important than winning that basketball game. When you said it took your time to trust a little bit from the injury coming back to full. Is there an area that you feel like you've made the biggest games in that regard? Little little things whether in practice or whether in games that you say, okay that's a huge a huge improvement. Uh it really was in practice. You know the certain movements being able to cut you know defend, how you know we used to be able to defend and just get more comfortable with it as practice going on. You know, being able to week by week just go out there and you know do certain certain things that I wasn't able to do a week probably too was just you know, me saying a big step, you know, my foot coming from injury. Ryan what has to be different as you go into this road game compared to the previous road game. Uh I think the obvious and overwhelming one is the energy from the start and that's something that it's a big you know, the next step that this team has to take. Like you mentioned, we're going one on the road. We want a few neutral site games. But um, it'll be a challenge for this team. This is my first time really playing for a team that has such a crazy home court advantage. Um, and you know, we've, we've been able to prove that we can play at home and we're, we come out striking first. But that's something that I can't, I can't take a drop and we hit the road and play teams, um, in their environment. So it's gotta be right from the jump. Is it, is it an approach thing or is it more mentally gearing yourself up for this? I think it's both, uh, try to mention that the last game, I hadn't really thought of it myself because I played in a few away games, but for the majority of our team that was their first road game. And there's a lot of factors that go into that, that, you know, you after being in it for so long you don't really think about, but traveling the day before sleeping in a hotel bed, just not having the kind of your usual routine. It's something that only experience can teach. But the biggest thing is, you know, you can control your energy and you control your teams, um, their energy coming out of the jump, which is something that we have to can't happen. I thought we were slowing, lethargic coming out against, great for us and they jumped on us early from the perimeter? How does your house, the exploitation help control that? I think something's been estranged for the past few games has been our interior scoring both on offense scoring that defensively we've been able to control the class and that's something that's got to remain constant moving forward, especially against NC State since they have that kind of perimeter shooting. But it will be our guards have done a tremendous job defensively both the guys that started to come off the bench so you know, a ton of faith in them being able to take on the challenge. We have to really good guards that shoot at a high volume shooting, a high percentage. But like I said, I think our backcourt defensively is, has been awesome so far. They've been terrific and I'm sure they'll keep it going for their matchup. What are you saying when you look at the film? Uh, like I said, they're a really good team. Have two great guards and it's just making sure we slow them down and make them half court team. You know, they really like to get up and down the transition so long as we stick to the game plan. That coach provided will be fine. Ryan is one of the veteran players on the team will ask about Kyle and then he played so well, so much the last couple of games. The production's been down that happens to freshman as you know, the season. But what have you said to him or what counsel do you have for him to help him through that? So you can get get through and get back to the other side. Absolutely. I think you mentioned in one of the things that he was playing at quite an incredible level at the beginning of the season, he still, I think the biggest thing is just continue to encourage hasn't really changed his mindset of his game. But you know, having such a deep team with so much death. We continue to throw different lineups out. And although I think it's, you know, it's a real problem for other teams that we can throw so many different lineups and have so many different guys having different days at least somewhat, you know, inconsistency in terms of roles. And we don't, you know, I think, I want to say the majority of games we finished with different lineups. So it makes it challenging for some of our guys to keep on defining those roles as the season goes on. But as an older guy, it's just, you know, keep the course this happens. There's not many players that can, uh, you know, don't go through highs and lows throughout the season. Um, and it's just a stick to what has made him great so far, which is just continue to play aggressive offensively and attack mismatches? We play him at the four. There's not many powerful words in our league, I think in the country that have his kind of skills that can guard him, especially in the, in the post. Um, so just keeping his head down, keep working in practice and it, um, there's also a show if he keeps putting the work in which he has been to read coach mentioned that he thought it was big for you to kind of press a reset button when you went home for christmas, what did you do at home that kind of allowed you to refresh and come back uh, different just being around family sometimes. You know, always you get to, you know, just hear what you need to hear and you know, when I went home, they told me what it was and you know, it's kind of like a reset button, I had to, you know, lock in and had to, you know, put everything else to the side and coming back. I just had a different mindset and I was actually ready to get back from the break and ready to attack practices and you know, it's going to qualify that as tough love a little bit absolutely. You know, I feel like that's what everybody, you know, you got tough love and somewhere, you know, even if even if it's not what you want to hear, you know, everyone has family members where you know, that just comes with it. So what was one of the things they were telling you? I mean, it was telling me, you know, I have a hunch, you know, she was just telling me like, you know, you're not the player that people say you are, you know, right now, you know, you look great and you know, that's just what I needed to hear, you know, I often got caught up in, oh, I'm hurt, you know, coming off an injury, but she just, you know, she told me pretty much, you know, it was done with that, you know, there's no more time for excuses. So I just had to, you know, just mentally preparing, mentally lock in and get ready to come back. Uh huh um no, I think, I mean everybody coming back from an injury, it's I think, I don't know what your experience has been, but so much of it, as mental as it is physical, obviously I've been playing for a while, so I haven't dealt with an injury of that length, but um you know, I've rolled ankles here and there and a lot of it is mental. So uh you know, every player takes a different process and different speed but has done an incredible job with it and especially even when he was on the sideline, he was still for being at such a young age, still a great talker and a great teammate, which is, you know, it's not easy to do that if you're sidelined for that long, but it's awesome. And it's it's motivational and it's great to see him back out here doing what he can do anything from in practice we haven't seen in games yet. Yeah I'd say so. I said there's even more. I mean it was great to see Derick out here this last game and be the player that we know he is being held back from injury for a while. But I think there's more left in the tank. Give us some examples. I mean I still think in in games it's such a short amount of time to see what we can do in the open court which is really exciting. So a little bit of it that play from you know but our team has so many buckets defense to offense and making plays defensively. I think Tariq is a player epitomizes that he's able to guard you know a ton of different positions and get active defensively lead to steals and then there's not many players more dangerous than Tariq is in transition. So I think adding to that what we can be and turning those defensive plays and the offense is what he'll help us even get further out in excel anything else. Yeah I got a question for what do you guys talk saying as far as like the matchup with N. C. State backcourt you know it's kind of self proclaimed themselves the best backcourt in the A. C. C. And I'm sure that's kind of gotten around you know throughout the entire conference. Um Is that something you guys can maybe use as motivation or whatever to go up you know in this matchup or is it something that you guys aren't paying attention to just focusing on what you guys see on film? I mean like I said before they're a great team. Like I said they have two great guards but pretty much it's just with us sticking to the game plan. You know like coach said we gotta come out and execute the game plan and make sure defensively you know we're doing what we're told, make sure we're going to help and just slowing down and making a half court team. Thanks guys.

Whitehead & Young: Winning on the road 'will be a challenge for this team'

Dariq Whitehead and Ryan Young

Duke freshmen Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead will miss Tuesday's game at Wake Forest because of an illness.

Duke freshmen Lively, Whitehead to miss Wake Forest game with illness

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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has announced that freshmen Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead will miss tonight's game at Wake Forest due to non-COVID illness.


Duke's Lively, Whitehead out for game at Wake Forest

Dariq Whitehead speaks to the media following a 92-58 win over Delaware.

long months, just being able to go out there with the guys again for the first time with something that, you know, I've been looking forward to, I've been amped up, you know, seeing them every day and practice to get after it and just to finally be able to join them, you know, in today's game with something that, you know, I look forward to and now obviously I'm waiting for the next game, you know, hopefully there's more opportunities to come, when did you know that you were capable of playing in a game that you were going to be available? I've been feeling good for about a week and a half now, but it was just more so taking it, you know, being cautious, you know, making sure that, you know, let's get a few more practices in the five on five and stuff like that, but you know, I've been, it was more so getting in shape, you know, I had to get in shape and stuff, but I've been ready for about a good week and a half, uh probably need another game, probably need another game just to, you know, get my legs going again, get in the flow of, you know, shooting game game like shots and I feel like after another game might be uh playing in front of camera, Crazy says, it's a blessing, I say, you know, obviously you got the adrenaline rushing all the charities out there, you know, cheering you on, just something that you dream of since the kids, so it's just a crazy experience and a blessing uh it was kind of decision we had to come up with together and it was pretty much after the Kansas game, you know, just seeing how hard, you know, my guys went out there and fought and just me feeling like I couldn't be out there to, you know, help with that and it was just, you know, a matter of, I feel like I was ready now, so we got together as a coach with the coaches and training staff and we just felt like it was time, thank you, did you have a moment where you're like, wow, I'm really playing for Duke, uh yeah, even the first since warmups, I came out here and warm up, like I said, this is my debut, so just coming out here and seeing all the guys and then just being in that moment was like okay, wow, I'm really here, so what did it feel like to get that first bucket to fall down? Uh felt great, it felt great, obviously, you know, coming off sitting out for, you know, down to three months, so I just have to, you know, just taking it slow, making sure I get my legs back, making sure you know, I'm getting back into going game speed and stuff, so it felt great, it looked to me like the second half there at the end, you kind of started looking like you a little bit attacking shots, maybe didn't fall every time, but you did you feel that way too as well in the second half, I definitely start to settle in more, but you know, that comes with, you know, playing more being in more games, you know, the shots are gonna fall, that's not something me and coach was worried about, you know what I'm capable of on the offensive side, it was just more so you know, defending and making sure I go out there and give it all I got for them spurts that I was in the game, was it scary going through a foot injury? You know, those are, you never know, kind of with those, you got your whole future ahead of you, what was that kind of like? It was definitely scary, but just being able to have someone like, you know, tatum who've been through the same thing I've been through, just talked to him and you know, tell me what was going through his mind when, you know, he was here and it's kind of, you know, the same thing for me, you know, do I have a lot of time, you know, do I got you know, how quick do I need to get back on the court and stuff like that, but you know, just him helping me, you know, get me through this process, telling me to slow down, don't rush, you know, everything that I need and you know, I was waiting for gonna be there in the future, so just making sure I took my time to remember that he had the same injury, or uh he I believe it was a different toe, but he had the same exact injury, you know, fractured his foot, but I believe it was just the third metatarsal instead of the fifth, like mine.

Whitehead: Second half I definitely started to settle in more

Freshman Dariq Whitehead will suit up for Duke's Friday night home game against Delaware. 

Star freshman Dariq Whitehead suiting up for Duke debut against Delaware

Dariq Whitehead talks to the media as Duke begins practice.

I was telling us about your foot, he said that you're kind of ahead of schedule with your, with your rehab, how's that been going for a husband feeling for you, it's been feeling good, you know, I want to stay ahead of schedule, I feel like, you know, it's perfect time, you know, being a athletic training department, we've been doing a really good job of making sure we shrinking my foot back up to make sure, you know, obviously sometimes falling back to him, I need to be, what do you, what are you able to do right now? Uh right now it's just more so than the foot up. So, you know, like I said, walking without the boot, you know, making sure we do, you know, drills on the side to sharpen that back up and make sure we're at where we left off originally, what's been, I guess your experience outside of the injury this summer just, you know, come together with the new team, a lot of versatility on the team as well, a lot of new faces and also a new coaching staff and you're going to be a part of this new change for dude, what's that been like? Uh so far, it's been great, we've got a great group of guys who came in, like you said, I feel like this is one of the most versatile teams I've played with in a long time, you know, I feel like everybody's doing their own thing, so just know I'm seeing how coach is gonna put that together, you know, something we're looking forward to seeing and saying, you know, like you said, we got a lot of great pieces and you know, a lot of guys come in and play big minutes, so like I said, it all comes down to see how to put it together, she did the job as far as, you know, keeping his recruiting legacy going and bringing in Utah players. But how is he doing his job as far as coaching, you guys know, because he said, it's been, it's a difference now with him being the head man and all the planning he has to do. How has he done so far from your perspective, uh to me has been done an outstanding job, you know, to get a group of guys under your first year coaching, I know it's a lot of pressure for him, but so far he's been doing an outstanding job to bring all of us together and make sure we're playing together at the, you know, this early in the season. I mean, there's not much you can say, but like I said, you've been doing an outstanding job really. What is it about this team on the chemistry that you, you guys are gonna be able to build going into this season, like, what do you like about it so far? What I like about it is we don't have egos, you know, everybody came in, top ranked in the country, you know, everybody came in, you know, top Grad transfers and there's no egos on the team, we all generally have one goal and one vision, which is the one national championship, is that rare. It's very rare to, you know, have a bunch of guys who's top in the nation to come and, you know, just buy into one goal. You know, sometimes egos getting away, especially at the college level, you know, especially that next step is, you know, the pro level, so a lot of egos and getting away, but that's definitely rare that this team right here is just, you know, we're all locked in and, you know, joint on one, nothing takes you back to it. But what happened, you know, during the injury and what do you do, you remember thinking anything or what you were thinking when it happened, uh, I landed the wrong way and, you know, the only thing I was thinking about was, you know, really just getting back, you know, I couldn't wait to start attacking the rehab and, you know, stuck into my foot again, so I could get back out there with the team and for you to come in so highly touted and just anticipating being here and being with this nationally and how tough for you right now to be sitting out while while everybody's kind of getting after it was very tough, you know, seeing a bunch of guys who, you know, you call your brothers out there going hard every day and you're sitting on the side watching it's very tough to deal with but like I said I'm just focusing on getting my foot back you know stronger so I can be out there with them you know do you have a timetable as far as I'm standing involved? I know you can't be out there before. Are you still in all the meetings and everything? Like how have you still try to make sure that you incorporate? I said I've been really interacting with everything. They've been doing meetings practices. You know I've been kind of doing my own thing inside making sure I'm still getting my rehab working and done stuff. So you know it's been like I said definitely training department for doing a great job of making sure you know we get back to it. Can I get a comment from you about jeremy roach and the role that he's playing so far and helping you guys develop your chemistry and just you know bringing you guys along with him kind of being the O. G. And the veteran now. How is he how is he doing so far in that role? Uh he's going way better than expected and I say he's been great the entire summer from the first day all the way until now you know just seeing how he came here and took a bunch of young guys and he's leading us you know and the way he is I feel like he's gonna definitely turn a lot of heads this this year and I'm just excited to see what this year has been three people, I wasn't here for the whole summer has been here about a month ago just from what you've seen is watching, it looks like the players he what does he bring to the team and when you're back with the possibility of playing inside and outside it was like Tyrese is a pro for sure, you know, I like the way he thinks the game, you know the way he sees the game, everything about him is just you know like I said screams pro and I just can't wait to get back out there when you know play with a player who's that gifted and has the passing ability that he has, what's it been like the last few weeks with former players coming back and somebody also wore number zero jayson tatum when he was here, did you get a chance to talk to those guys learn from him a little bit, it's been a great, you know great opportunity of being able to see those guys come back, you know like I said you know because them coming back and talking to me, you know helped me a lot, especially you know just take them in terms of you know having an injury and he had the same injury if he was when he was here, so just him talking to me about it, tell him you know, don't rush it. You know, make sure you come back when you know the time is right. You know, that's something that you know, help me give me more confidence. Did it make you feel better knowing that you know, he had that he was able to come back and be as successful as he's been? Absolutely, you know, like I said, that was something that you know, I went home. You know, I called my mom and told her about, you know, just knowing that someone who's been in the same situation was able to talk to me and talk me through this and help me, you know, I guess be more confident with when we were talking to flip, he talked about, he smiled when he talked about you guys and how you all are gonna shock each other with how you all mesh on the floor. Can you talk a little bit about that? Yeah. Like I said, it goes back to refer to what I said earlier, you know, just coming in, you could kind of Predict for a lot of guys that have, you know, Eagles and coming in, how we all instantly clicked, you know, off the court were together all the time doing things together, you know, the entire time. So it's just, it's rare that you find a group of guys who all like each other, we have 15 guys and I can say each and every one of us enjoys being around each other every day.

Whitehead: 'We have 15 guys, everyone of us enjoys being around each other'

Duke freshman men's basketball forward Dariq Whitehead underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a fracture in his right foot.