2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Arkansas guards, SEC prominent in lottery

The numbers paint a complicated picture of Dariq Whitehead, who has largely struggled to establish himself as a reliable threat for the loaded Blue Devils. Once hailed as a potential top-five pick and one of the draft’s surest bets, Whitehead’s stock is unexpectedly murky. His potential range on draft boards is quite wide.

For the season, Whitehead is shooting only 39.9 percent from the field. Multiple lower leg injuries have hampered his progress and disrupted his rhythm. The silver lining, however, is an impressive 41.0 percent clip from 3-point range on over seven attempts per game.

In theory, Whitehead is a positionally malleable defender and confident shot-maker who can score in a variety of ways. He made his name with impressive contested jumpers and go-to scoring flashes in high school. Right now, he just doesn’t have the legs for it. That said, his 3-point shooting and impressive passing ability suggest that he could fit comfortably into a more refined role on a team like Golden State.

The Warriors are quickly approaching an organizational crossroads. While Whitehead might not be the safe pick we all imagined him to be a few months ago, he possesses the right blend of evident skill, NBA athleticism, and untapped potential to warrant a lottery pick from Golden State.