Maryland freshman center Derik Queen is one-and-done.
As expected, the Baltimore native and former St. Frances star has declared for the 2025 NBA draft after a standout debut with the Terps in which he averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and hit the game-winning buzzer-beater that sent Maryland to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
While Queen isn’t considered a generational prospect like Duke’s Cooper Flagg or worthy of a top-three selection like Rutgers stars Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, he’s expected be a lottery pick and could end up in the top 10. He’d be the first lottery pick for the Terps since Jalen Smith was selected 10th overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2020 and the first to be selected in the top two rounds since Aaron Wiggins went to the Oklahoma City Thunder at 55th overall in 2021.
With the draft lottery coming up May 12 and the first round kicking off June 25, here’s a look at where some experts predict Queen to land:
Bleacher Report: No. 5 to Philadelphia 76ers
Process 2.0?
With stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey and even standout rookie Jared McCain going down with injuries this season, Philadelphia has the chance to land a top-six pick in the lottery and keep its first-round selection that would otherwise go to the Oklahoma City Thunder as the result of a 2020 trade. But if the ping pong balls don’t bounce the Sixers’ way, they face an arduous rebuild, especially if Embiid is not healthy enough to play next season.
For many Philly fans, Queen would be the light at the end of the tunnel of a forgettable season that began with championship hopes. But how would he fit?
“Queen’s skill level, scoring versatility and passing IQ have been strong enough indicators of offensive success that certain teams will be willing to look past his defensive limitations,” writes Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, who compares Queen with Houston Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun.
It’s fun to imagine what Queen would look like playing alongside a trio of stars in a town that has never lacked passion when it comes to its sports fandom. If he reaches his potential in Philadelphia, he could become one of the league’s brightest young stars.
SB Nation: No. 8 to San Antonio Spurs
The biggest knock on Queen in the eyes of several evaluators is his poor defense. So why not pair him with perhaps the best defensive player in the league?
Here, Queen teams up with 7-foot-3 French sensation Victor Wembanyama, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick and NBA Rookie of the Year who took another step forward in his sophomore season before blood clots shut him down indefinitely.
“Queen is super strong, and has great quickness in tight spaces. He already draws fouls like a savvy veteran, and his touch around the rim is fantastic. He’s just a little too small to play [center] at 6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan, and he’s a little too slow to defend NBA [power forwards],” SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell writes. “Ideally, Queen needs a legit rim protector next to him who can also stretch the floor. San Antonio is his obvious best landing spot next to Victor Wembanyama, and it happens in this mock draft.”
While the Spurs have long been the gold standard in the NBA after a dynastic run with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Tony Park and later Kawhi Leonard, there’s some future uncertainty with Wembanyama sidelined and longtime coach Gregg Popovich having been away from the team since suffering a stroke in November. San Antonio hasn’t had a winning record since making the playoffs in the 2018-19 season, but Wemby’s ascendance, a midseason trade for star point guard De’Aaron Fox and the emergence of standout rookie Stephon Castle creates plenty of excitement for the future. Adding Queen would only inspire more confidence.
ESPN: No. 11 overall to Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler is playing for the Golden State Warriors now after a messy split from the team that he led to two NBA Finals, and the Heat have slumped toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference this season as a result. But Miami, led by legend Pat Riley and elite coach Erik Spoelstra, is still considered one of the league’s premier organizations for drafting and developing talent and is always a threat to land a superstar. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or maybe even Giannis Antetokounmpo could perhaps be attracted to South Beach in the near future.
That makes this an intriguing fit for Queen, who in the meantime could pair with 2024 first-round pick and former Indiana star Kel’el Ware to form a formidable front court. The former St. Frances star could also have a fellow Baltimore native as a teammate in Haywood Highsmith, a former Archbishop Curley standout.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, Queen is the “most offensively gifted big in this draft class, giving NBA teams a lot to think about with his ability to handle, pass, and create mismatches, along with his flashes of shooting potential.” However, Woo said that the big man’s “motor on the defensive end and on the glass were often questionable,” which is something he’ll need to address in predraft interviews.
“The Heat have been open to swinging big on talent, and Queen could benefit from landing in Miami, an organization that could get the most out of him,” Woo writes.
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.
