Derik Queen arrived at Maryland with fanfare like few recruits before him, lived up to the billing and reaped his rewards on Wednesday night at the NBA Draft. The former Terps star is heading to the New Orleans Pelicans, who traded up to pick him No. 13.
Queen, listed at 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, was widely regarded as one of the most skilled post players in college basketball. During his lone season in College Park, he averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 52.6% from the field across 36 appearances. He posted 15 double-doubles, ranking second in Maryland history for a single season, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors and the conference's Freshman of the Year award.
Queen produced an overflowing catalog of big games and highlight-reel plays during his freshman season, but his signature moment came during the NCAA Tournament, when he hit a high-difficulty running bank shot at the buzzer to lift Maryland past Colorado State and back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
"I'm from Baltimore, that's why," Queen quipped after the game. On Wednesday at the NBA Draft, that phrase was stitched inside his jacket.
Derik Queen repping Baltimore on his big night: pic.twitter.com/7iUUvaAWnL
— Inside Maryland Sports (@Terrapins247) June 25, 2025
A consensus five-star recruit, Queen was ranked No. 10 overall in the 2024 class by 247Sports and No. 3 among centers. He committed to Maryland over offers from Kansas, Indiana, and Houston, viewed as a program-changing recruit and listed second on the list of Maryland basketball's highest-rated recruits of the modern era. He not only lived up to the hype but arguably exceeded it, becoming the focal point of Maryland's offense and delivering in high-pressure moments.
Now he'll face more pressure in the NBA, playing against grown men and questioned for his moderate athleticism and inaccurate three-point shot.
But Queen is also a basketball genius, flashing rare passing ability, anticipation and one-on-one game for a young big man. He drew consistent praise from NBA scouts for his advanced footwork, soft touch around the rim and passing vision from the post. Many have compared his playing style to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
That 2016 season also happened to be the last time a Maryland player, Diamond Stone, went one-and-done. But Stone, the only Maryland recruit ranked higher than Queen since 2000, was picked 40th and fell out of the league quickly. Queen looks primed for a long and successful career.
"I'm glad I got to do something for Maryland," he said this week. "I love that place. It was fun."
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