NBA Draft Scouting Report: Maryland's Derik Queen

Scouting Report: Derik Queen

Montverde's Derik Queen (25) shakes teammate hand during introductions against Whitehaven for a basketball game in the Winter Classic at the McDonald Insurance Arena on Friday, Feb. 09, 2024 in Bartlett, Tenn. / Stu Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

1. Player Info
2. Prospect Profile
3. Highlights
4. Draft Projection
5. 2025 Big Board

Apr 1, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald's All American East center Derik Queen speaks during a press conference at JW Marriott Houston by The Galleria. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Player Info

Derik Queen

Center | Maryland

Height: 6'10” | Weight: 245 lbs 

2025 Draft Age: 20.49

Prospect Profile

A confident player with a broad frame, Queen is extremely strong and skilled for his age. He’s undersized from a height perspective for a center, but has good natural feel and the tools it takes to be an effective NBA big. 

What makes Queen so productive is the great foundational skills he has. Not only is he big and strong, but he has very good hands, solid footwork and the ability to finish around the rim in a variety of ways. He’s capable of punishing defenders in a traditional way with his back to the basket, but is also dynamic in face-up situations. Queen is an efficient scorer in the paint and can generate his own shots, making him more than just a play finisher. He is overpowering with his 245-pound frame and has a knack for getting fouled and getting to the line. 

Queen is not yet a floor spacer, which will be a huge swing as it relates to his ultimate ceiling moving forward. Even then, when he gets the ball away from the rim, he can still make things happen without having the ability to rise up and shoot. The Maryland freshman is a very good passer for his size with the ability to survey the floor and hit cutters when he has the ball. 

The defensive side of the ball will be interesting for Queen moving forward. He’s strong and capable of defending nearly any frontcourt player in the paint, but his lack of burst and athleticism may result in an inability to defend in space against the elite athletes in the NBA on the perimeter. The former McDonald’s All-American has put in a lot of work on his body recently, but he still needs to become more mobile on the defensive end. He’s also not an elite shot blocker, so his overall impact on that end has room to improve. Even then, Queen is a very good rebounder and is known for dominating the glass. 

A former five-star recruit, Queen spent time at Montverde in high school playing alongside several future NBA talents including Duke’s Cooper Flagg. With his NBA-ready frame and skillset, it won’t be surprising to see the Maryland freshman get better as the year goes on and end up being a late draft riser. His ceiling will likely come down to his ability to defend outside of the paint and expand his shooting upside, but at minimum, he has the tools to be a strong, connective big at the next level.

Highlights

Draft Projection

Second-Round Pick in 2025 NBA Draft.

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2025 Big Board

Want to know more about other potential 2025 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Big Board.

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