Dariq Whitehead going 5-on-5 with Long Island Nets

Rookie Dariq Whitehead went 5-on-5 at a Long Island Nets practice Tuesday as the G League affiliate opened its training camp in Westbury, a Brooklyn insider tells NetsDaily. Whitehead and fellow first rounder, Noah Clowney, were sent to Long Island, earlier Tuesday...

That’s a significant milestone for Whitehead, the NBA’s second youngest player, Since his foot surgery and draft back in June, Whitehead has been recovering and rehabbing in Brooklyn. On October 9, Whitehead told beat writers that he had advanced to 1-on-1 contact drills and hoped to be going 5-on-5 in “a couple of weeks.”

No word on when he might be ready to play, either in Long Island or Brooklyn. Long Island opens its season at Nassau Coliseum on November 10. On Monday, Long Island GM J.R. Holden told our Jordan Greene, “A lot of things will be decided by the organization and what they feel his process should be. He will spend time time here just so he can be right mentally and physically since we want him to be here for a long time. We are excited for him to be apart of this team and see him get back to 100%”

The 6’7” wing was drafted out of Duke at No. 22 in the first round, his prospects having dropped over concerns about his health. Dr. Martin O’Malley, the Nets orthopedist well known for treating foot issues, performed the surgery.

The nation’s top high school prospect two years ago at Monteverde Academy in Florida was limited by his injuries his freshman year at Duke. Still, he shot 42.9% from deep playing, as he’s said. “on one leg.”

The Nets also announced that they are sending two-way players Jalen Wilson and Armoni Brooks from Long Island to Brooklyn. With so many Nets injured, Wilson and Brooks could get minutes.