Three Duke basketball players maintaining first-round draft stocks

Each of Duke basketball's projected 2023 draft selections is a freshman.
Three Duke basketball players maintaining first-round draft stocks
Three Duke basketball players maintaining first-round draft stocks /
In this story:

Kyle Filipowski is rising, while Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II are falling. None are projected lottery picks. Yet all three Duke basketball freshmen remain in the first round of the recently updated aggregate ranking of 2023 draft prospects, courtesy of HoopsHype, which factors in nine of the most recognized mock drafts.

At No. 17, Whitehead is the first Blue Devil to appear on the list. However, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward, who missed the first three games of the season due to a fracture in his right foot and sat out Saturday's 86-43 road win over Georgia Tech with a left lower leg injury, has seen his stock drop 12 spots since before the season.

RELATED: Blue Devils right the ship at Georgia Tech

The next Blue Devil on the list is Filipowski at No. 22. Previously, the now-six-time ACC Rookie of the Week ranked behind fellow 7-footer Lively. But Filipowski's averages of 16.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in conference play have catapulted him four notches since the previous update in the last week of December.

Lively slipped to No. 29, down nine spots from late December and down 21 since late August. That said, this update came out on Friday, the day before the former five-star recruit, who ranked No. 1 on the 247Sports 2022 Composite, had arguably his best game as a Blue Devil with nine points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks at Georgia Tech.

Meanwhile, freshman forward Mark Mitchell, the only player other than Filipowski who has played and started in all 21 Duke basketball games this season, now sits at No. 58 overall after not appearing in the first or second round in the first two installments.

RELATED: List of Duke's all-time McDonald's All-Americans

Somehow, freshman guard Tyrese Proctor not only disappeared from the first round this go-round but doesn't even appear in the second round, despite orchestrating the Blue Devil offense admirably the past few weeks. Across the past five outings, he has averaged 11.8 points, 4.6 assists, and only 1.0 turnovers.

Perhaps the new assumption among draft experts is Proctor will return for a sophomore campaign.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.


Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.