Derik Queen

Last updated
Derik Queen
Derik Queen (54424016534) (cropped).jpg
Queen at Camden Yards in 2025
No. 22–New Orleans Pelicans
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2004-12-27) December 27, 2004 (age 20)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
College Maryland (2024–2025)
NBA draft 2025: 1st round, 13th overall pick
Drafted by Atlanta Hawks
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–present New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Derik Emanuel Queen (born December 27, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. He was drafted 13th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2025 NBA draft.

Contents

High school career

As a freshman, Queen attended Saint Frances Academy in his native Baltimore. [1] On March 12, 2021, he scored a season-high 56 points in a 99–55 win over Annapolis Area Christian School. [2] Queen averaged 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game during the COVID-shortened season, leading the Panthers to a 15–1 record and an appearance in the Baltimore Catholic League title game. [2] He was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year for his performance. [2] Following the season, Queen transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. [3] He received limited playing time as a sophomore due to the amount of talent on the team, which won its second straight GEICO Nationals title with a 60–49 win over Link Academy. [4] [5]

On December 9, 2022, Queen recorded his first double-double at Montverde, contributing 11 points and 11 rebounds during a 78–51 win over Oak Hill Academy at the Bob Kirk Invitational Showcase. [6] [7] On December 21, he tallied 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds in a 79–45 win over Milton High School at the Iolani Classic. [6] [8] On January 5, 2023, Queen scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 66–62 win over fellow national powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy at the LaPorte Invitational. [6] [9] The next day, he posted 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 66–61 victory over Wasatch Academy. [6] On February 3, 2023, Queen recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds to guide second-ranked Montverde to an 85–48 win over top-ranked Link Academy in a highly anticipated matchup between the two top-ranked teams in the country. [10] However, Montverde suffered a 46–45 upset defeat to Sunrise Christian in the quarterfinals of the 2023 GEICO Nationals, which the ESPNU crew described as "the biggest upset in the 14-year history of the GEICO Nationals." [11] Queen had 10 points and six rebounds in the loss, which ended their season with a record of 23–3. [11] As a junior, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 61 percent shooting, receiving a MaxPreps Junior All-American honorable mention. [12]

On November 25, 2023, Queen recorded 24 points and eight rebounds to lead Montverde to a 103–74 win over Duncanville High School. [13] In their next game, an 86–69 victory over IMG Academy, he posted 25 points and 13 rebounds. [13] [14] On December 8, Queen tallied 20 points and nine rebounds in a 71–59 win over Link Academy. [13] [14]

Queen also played for Team Thill in off-season competitions. In 2023, he led them to an Under Armour Association (UAA) 17U spring championship after recording 22 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in their 69–49 title game victory over West Coast Elite. [15]

Recruiting

Queen was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class, according to major recruiting services. On October 27, 2023, he officially narrowed his list of schools down to four finalists: Maryland, Indiana, Kansas and Houston. [16] On February 21, 2024, Queen verbally committed to playing college basketball for Maryland. [1] [14] It was one of the first programs to start recruiting Queen, having offered him a scholarship during the summer before his freshman year. [1]

College recruiting information
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
Derik Queen
C 		Baltimore, MD Montverde Academy (FL)6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (110 kg)Feb 21, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  5 stars.svg     247Sports:  5 stars.svg     On3:  4 stars.svg     ESPN:  5 stars.svg    (93)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 18    247Sports: 12    On3: 26    ESPN: 8
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Maryland 2024 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  • "2024 Maryland Terrapins Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved May 30, 2025.

College career

Queen enrolled at the University of Maryland in 2024. Following his freshman season, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, Queen scored 31 points against the eventual Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines in the semifinal. It was the most points ever scored in the tournament by a Maryland freshman and earned him an All-Tournament Team selection. [17]

In the second round of the subsequent NCAA tournament, Queen scored a fadeaway jump shot at the buzzer to lift Maryland above Colorado State, 72–71. It was his first game-winning shot at any level. [18]

Professional career

Queen was drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but was traded the same day to the New Orleans Pelicans for Asa Newell and a future first-round draft pick. [19] On July 5, 2025, Queen signed his rookie contract. [20] In a July 15 NBA Summer League game, Queen tore a scapholunate ligament in his left wrist. He had surgery on July 18 and is expected to miss three months of action. [21]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2024–25 Maryland 363630.4.526.200.7669.01.91.11.116.5

References

  1. 1 2 3 Graham, Glenn and Lee, Edward (February 21, 2024). "Derik Queen, a 5-star recruit from Baltimore, commits to Maryland men's basketball". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Graham, Glenn (April 19, 2021). "St. Frances basketball star Derik Queen named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ Divens, Jordan (July 28, 2021). "High school basketball: MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year Derik Queen headed to Montverde Academy, giving Eagles 11 top 60 prospects next season". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Schumann, Mike (January 9, 2023). "Rapidly improving 2024 big man Derik Queen gives thoughts on IU basketball, overall recruitment". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ↑ Hardwig, Greg (April 2, 2022). "High school basketball: Montverde Academy wins sixth GEICO Nationals boys championship". The News-Press . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Derik Queen's Basketball Stats | Varsity 22-23". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  7. ↑ Bennett, Kyle (December 11, 2022). "Balanced scoring attack sends Montverde past Oak Hill, 78-51". Cumberland Times-News . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Boys' Basketball Closes Out 'Iolani Classic with Win over Milton". Montverde Academy Athletics. December 22, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ Branham, Travis (January 6, 2023). "NIBC LaPorte Invitational: Derik Queen, Jayden Ross, Gus Yalden and Matas Buzelis standout on day one". 247Sports . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ Divens, Jordan (February 3, 2023). "High school basketball: National Top 10 No. 2 Montverde Academy blows past previously-unbeaten No. 1 Link Academy 84-58". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Gorches, Steve (March 30, 2023). "Montverde loses to Sunrise in major upset at GEICO High School Nationals". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ Divens, Jordan (June 14, 2023). "High school basketball: Derik Queen moves into top 10 of Class of 2024 after dominant spring". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 "Derik Queen's Basketball Stats | Varsity 23-24". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 Borzello, Jeff and Biancardi, Paul (February 21, 2024). "Top-10 prospect Derik Queen commits to home state Maryland". ESPN . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ Divens, Jordan (June 14, 2023). "High school basketball: Derik Queen moves into top 10 of Class of 2024 after dominant spring". MaxPreps . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Tipton, Joe (October 27, 2023). "Top-15 recruit Derik Queen down to 4 schools". On3. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Donaldson's court-length drive sends No. 22 Michigan past No. 11 Maryland 81-80 in Big Ten tourney". ESPN.com . March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ Henderson, Brady (March 24, 2025). "Queen's buzzer shot sends Terrapins to Sweet 16". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Pelicans acquire draft rights to Derik Queen". NBA.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ "New Orleans Pelicans sign rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen". NBA.com. July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ Leahy, Sean (July 18, 2025). "Pelicans rookie Derik Queen out at least 3 months after wrist surgery". yahoo.com . Retrieved July 20, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.