Duke basketball: Sizing up 3 contenders for A-list recruit Dariq Whitehead
By Matt Giles
Contender for Duke basketball target Dariq Whitehead: Florida State
Many experts painted Florida State as the early leader in the Dariq Whitehead race until a month or so ago. And that made sense at the time, considering Leonard Hamilton and his crew were among the first last summer to extend an offer to the present-day Florida resident.
Plus, it was less than two years ago when another five-star forward out of Montverde Academy who ranked among the top 10 in his class, Scottie Barnes, chose the Seminoles over a slew of blueblood suitors. He became the 2020-21 ACC Rookie of the Year and is likely to be a lottery pick at Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
It’s also worth noting that, by all accounts, Whitehead seemed to enjoy his official visit to Florida State in mid-June.
Nevertheless, neither the Rivals FutureCast nor 247Sports Crystal Ball still contains a single pick for the Seminoles in the Whitehead sweepstakes. No, as Rivals insider Jamie Shaw recently opined, a new perceived No. 1 has emerged in the battle for the recent Peach Jam standout:
"“Florida State was [once] the prevailing thought, and when Leonard Hamilton zeros in on a player, he is tough to beat. While not counting out the Seminoles, at the end of the day, I think Duke holds on.”"
The chance that Florida State lands Dariq Whitehead: 15 percent