Ht/Wt: 6'10" / 245 lbs
Position: C
Team: Maryland
Class: Freshman

2025 Draft Profile - Derik Queen

The Ringer - May 27th: "He has a real knack for extracting rebounds out of the chaos around the basket, even if he manages to get only a fingertip on the ball. He’s just as clever and accurate with those mitts on defense and can create deflections or strip a driver without fouling."

Kyle Boone - CBS Sports - May 23rd: "Queen's the king of skill and feel among bigs in this class with the ability to put the ball on the floor and act as an offensive hub. What he lacks in athletic burst he makes up for with his understanding of the game and ability to create."

NBA Draft Room - May 22nd: "I see some boom or bust potential with Queen but I’d bet on the upside. He’s not a good athlete (which we already knew before the combine) but his skill level and feel for the game are so advanced for a young big man that it makes you think of players like Jokic and Sengun."

Kevin O'Connor - Yahoo! Sports - May 12th: "Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves and crafty finishes like his game-winning leaning jumper to send Maryland to the Sweet 16. If he translates his velvet touch to the perimeter he has offensive star upside, though his interior scoring, playmaking chops and magnetic rebounding give him tantalizing potential."

Jonathan Givony - ESPN - March 25th: "Queen had an excellent weekend, showing off his diverse skill set and aggressive mentality. He hit an incredible buzzer-beating game winner against Colorado State to help Maryland advance to its first Sweet 16 since 2016."

NBA Draft Room - March 22nd: "He’s a big-bodied post player who has nimble feet, great hands and a high skill level. He’s a great scorer and has a unique offensive skill-set but might struggle to guard at the NBA level."

Jeremy Woo - ESPN - March 13th: "Queen is the most offensively gifted big in this draft class, presenting matchup problems with his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack out of different spots on the interior. Despite his productivity, there have been gripes from NBA scouts who have critiqued his consistency, leaving room for doubt particularly on the defensive end, where he can be lethargic."

Kyle Boone - CBS Sports - March 12th: "Queen is a more throwback big whose game is predicated on physicality and passing finesse unlike Newell or Maluach -- two more defensive-centric, above-the-rim talents. He sees the game at a high level and is a menace on the boards."

Jonathan Wasserman - Bleacher Report - March 11th: "Believers will look at his unique ball-handling and footwork, which help separate him from past heavier-set, back-to-the-basket bigs who've struggled to stick or take off in the NBA. He's surprised most this year with how comfortable he looks facing up and using his dribble."

USA Today - March 11th: "An active, physical big man, Queen has a soft touch around the rim with either hand but has a power game, too. He can run the court and handle the basketball well for a power forward-center."




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