Newark Native May Have A Choice To Make Between College And The NBA

Dariq Whitehead was born in Newark, New Jersey and lived there for 12 years. He then took a leap of faith when he was 13.

Just as Whitehead began his teenage journey, his basketball journey took a step in a more promising direction. Dariq moved to Florida to play ball for the National Basketball Power House that is Montverde Academy.

Under head coach Kevin Boyle the 6-foot-6, 201 pound Whitehead will relentlessly work on his game and pursue his aspirations of becoming an NBA star. Dariq will be looking to take another leap, possibly going from the preps to the pros.

This may be possible because the NBA in 2022 could be eliminating their one and done plane. In 2005 the NBA decided they wanted all high schoolers to attend at least one year of college. Through collective bargaining the one-and-done rule could be eliminated, allowing high schoolers to jump right into the NBA.

“If he keeps humble and keeps working hard like he’s been, he’s got a chance to be one of three to five high school players that will be drafted out of high school in the 2022 Draft.”

-Boyle

When Boyle first saw Whitehead play he was in grade school with his AAU squad in Indianapolis. Boyle received a tip from an assistant coach at Montverde he knew then he had to lay eyes on the kid for himself.

Whitehead said; “He came to watch and in my seventh-grade year, he tried to get me to come down to Montverde, but my mom was like, ‘No, its too early.”

It only took one more year for Quadira Whitehead to decide her son was ready to leave home and accept the scholarship Montverde.

Montverde has four GEICO High School National Championships under there belt and looking for a fifth. They won three straight from 2013-15 when the 6’10 Ben Simmons was playing there having come over from Australia. The Eagles play a national schedule with several games airing on the ESPN networks.

“Where I’m from, there were not too many kids that can make it out, so I feel like if I went to Montverde, it would be a great opportunity to get where I want to be. I feel like the work I needed, which is schoolwork also, was going to prepare me for the next level going to college, getting to the pros.”

-Whitehead

(Cover photo and source courtesy of NJ.com)