Duke basketball is in solid position to have two players drafted in the first round for the 12th time in 13 years on Thursday when the 2023 NBA Draft begins in Brooklyn, New York.
Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead are expected to have their names called and displayed on the big screens at the Barclays Center. The Blue Devils had a program-record five players selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, including No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero – the NBA Rookie of the Year.
No other ACC team has produced five or more selections in a single draft since the draft went to just two rounds in 1989. Duke has had at least one player selected in 24 of the last 26 NBA Drafts.
Here’s a look at where Lively and Whitehead are projected to be selected ahead of the NBA Draft, according to mock drafts from CBS, ESPN and Yahoo!.
Duke basketball C Dereck Lively's NBA Draft projections
Mock draft high: No. 10 overall (Round 1) to Dallas Mavericks.
Mock draft low: No. 19 overall (Round 1) to Golden State Warriors.
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The buzz: Most mock drafts seem to agree that Lively will be hovering around the top 10 with Dallas and Orlando projected to be the teams most interested in selecting the 7-foot-1 center. His 7-foot-6 wingspan and range as a defender, along with improved shooting mechanics, have helped him rise up draft boards in recent months. Lively reportedly received an invite to the green room. He shouldn’t have to wait long.
Duke basketball F Dariq Whitehead
Mock draft high: No. 12 overall (Round 1) to Oklahoma City Thunder.
Mock draft low: No. 30 overall (Round 1) to Los Angeles Clippers via Milwaukee Bucks.
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The buzz: Despite injury setbacks and a second foot surgery earlier this month, the major outlets believe Whitehead will be a first-round pick and – possibly – one of the steals of the draft because of his upside. With a 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame, Whitehead’s size and his knack for knocking down shots makes him an intriguing risk worth taking in the first round. Matt Norlander of CBS believes Whitehead could have been a top-10 pick if not for the foot issues.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
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June 21, 2023 at 10:32PM
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Where Duke basketball's Dereck Lively could go in NBA Draft 2023, per mock drafts - The Fayetteville Observer
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