Maryland freshman Derik Queen says he's entering the NBA draft
Maryland star freshman Derik Queen says he's entering the NBA draft.
Queen made the announcement on ESPN. The talented big man averaged 16.5 points this season, and his bank shot at the buzzer gave the Terrapins a one-point win over Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Maryland lost coach Kevin Willard to Villanova and replaced him by hiring Texas A&M's Buzz Williams. The Terrapins face the prospect of losing all five members of their "Crab Five" starting unit. Two are out of eligibility, two others entered the transfer portal, and now Queen is entering the draft.
The NBA Draft will be on June 25, 2025.
Baltimore native's path to the NBA
Queen, projected by many to be an NBA Draft Lottery selection, was born in Baltimore and played a year of high school basketball at Baltimore's St. Frances Academy, with Maryland teammate Julian Reese.
He averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game in his lone season at St. Frances. He scored 56 points in a win over Annapolis Area Christian School.
Queen then transferred to play high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida before declaring to play in college at Maryland as a five-star recruit.
He was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Freshman of the Year after his only season in College Park, Maryland.
Uplifting Baltimore
Queen's buzzer-beater in the NCAA Tournament helped advance the Terps to the Sweet 16, where they faced the West Region's No. 1 seed, Florida. The last time the Terps were in the Sweet 16 was in 2016.
Maryland was already ahead in the game with Colorado, but Queen's last-second shot allowed him a moment to share his love for Baltimore.
After the game, he was asked where he got his confidence from.
"I'm from Baltimore, that's why," Queen responded.
"I just want to put on for Baltimore," he added. "A lot of people don't really make it out of Baltimore, and I just wanted to come here and make a change. And hopefully, I did make a change so Coach Willard can keep getting a lot of local kids."
