Duke basketball freshman Dariq Whitehead leaves ACC game at Virginia Tech with injury

Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead suffered an injury to his left leg during the second half of the Blue Devils’ 78-75 loss at Virginia Tech on Monday night.

Projected as a first-round pick in June’s NBA Draft, the 6-7 Whitehead suffered what the team called a lower leg injury and didn’t play over the final 17:10.

After the game, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said he hadn’t had a chance to get a full report from the team’s medical staff, so he was uncertain about Whitehead’s availability.

With 17:20 left in the game and the Hokies with the ball and a 47-45 lead, Whitehead landed awkwardly on his left leg while leaping in the air in an attempt to grab a loose ball from a Virginia Tech’s Justyn Mutts. Whitehead immediately reached for the back of his left leg and began limping.

Play continued until Virginia Tech’s Sean Pedulla hit a 3-pointer. That’s when officials halted play and Whitehead limped to the bench.

“He felt something as he was jumping there,” Scheyer said. “I need to get some clarity. We’ll get him back and evaluate him and go from there.”

Whitehead immediately was helped to the end of the bench where Duke team trainer Jose Fonseca examined him, focusing on the bottom of his calf muscle near the ankle. During a timeout with 15:50 to play, teammates Christian Reeves and Kale Catchings helped Whitehead to the Duke locker room as he was unable to put full weight on his left leg.

Whitehead is averaging 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds this season for the Blue Devils. He suffered a fractured right foot during a team drill in August that kept him out of Duke’s first three games.

Since returning, he’s played in 16 games. Monday night’s game was his sixth starting assignment. He scored 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting against Virginia Tech prior to his injury.

“It hurts,” Duke junior guard Jeremy Roach said. “He’s been there for us. He’s had some big-time moments for us. We wanted to get this one for him for sure. Just praying that he’s ok and has a speedy recovery.”