Dariq Whitehead is turning pro.

Whitehead announced that decision on Wednesday morning along with a sincere letter to the Duke community.

Here’s his announcement:

“I cannot thank you enough for the foundation you have given me as I pursue my dreams at the next level,” Whitehead said in-part. “I will always be a Blue Devil. With that being said, I’m thrilled to take the next step in my career by declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft and continuing representation with Excel Sports Management.”

Whitehead battled injuries throughout his freshman season with Duke, but he is still expected to be a 1st round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Whitehead made a big impact with his shooting ability, especially over the 2nd half of the season. He made 42.9% of his 3-point attempts this season. Overall, Whitehead averaged 8.3 points per game for the Blue Devils this year.

Whitehead is one of multiple Duke freshman who are expected to begin their pro careers this summer. Kyle Filipowski and Dereck Lively are also expected to enter the draft. Point guard Tyrese Proctor has already announced his intentions to return to Duke.