In a recruiting effort that was long and arduous, Maryland men’s basketball finally landed consensus five-star big man Derik Queen when he committed to the Terps on Feb. 21.
Queen, a Baltimore native, is the No. 12 player in the Class of 2024, according to 247Sports. Maryland hopes his commitment will create a ripple effect that will attract other highly-touted local players to College Park.
“I’ve been gone for three years, and I was like, ‘Why not come home?'” Queen said on Glenn Clark Radio Feb. 29.
Queen began his high school career at St. Frances Academy before transferring to Montverde Academy (Fla.), where he plays alongside several other blue-chip prospects, including Duke commit Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top-ranked player.
Indiana, Kansas and Houston joined Maryland in Queen’s final four schools. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man believes Maryland will put him in the best position to get to the NBA.
“[Maryland is] where I fit in at and where I felt most comfortable at,” Queen said.
Maryland has struggled this season after entering the year with high expectations. The Terps are 15-15 overall and 7-12 in the Big Ten with at least two games remaining, but their disappointing season did not affect Queen’s decision.
“I know they’re struggling but a lot of teams go through it,” Queen said. “Like, Coach [Kevin] Willard did a good job last year, and this year I guess he didn’t have all the pieces or something. The offensive game is what they’re struggling [with] there, but they do a pretty good job on defense.”
One of the pieces the Terps do have is Julian Reese, who should be one of the top big men in the Big Ten if he returns for a senior season. Many observers question how Reese and Queen fit together in the frontcourt, given that neither poses a threat from the perimeter. But the pair played together for one season at St. Frances, which could make Willard and his staff’s job a little easier.
“We don’t really talk a lot, but Juju — that’s still my guy,” Queen said. “… We [shared the frontcourt] my freshman year, so I think we can do it at a higher level next year.”
Although Queen isn’t likely to stretch his range past the 3-point line, he’s shown good touch at the free-throw line. He is shooting 79 percent from the line as a senior at Montverde.
“I lead the team in free throws, and I have to practice on it and just become a better free throw shooter,” Queen said.
Despite the lack of an outside shot, Queen possesses skills many players his size lack. Queen is widely touted for his complete offensive skill set that includes rare ball-handling and passing abilities for a player his size.
“To get to the league or to be successful, you can’t just score every time, you have to do other things,” Queen said. “… I could always pass, and I could always rebound and do everything. Montverde was just another level of pushing me.”
Maryland will ask a lot of Queen right away. The Terps will likely miss the NCAA Tournament this season and be tasked with replacing two of their three leading scorers in fifth-year players Jahmir Young and Donta Scott.
But with the addition of the second-highest ranked commit in program history according to 247Sports, the hope in College Park is that better days are ahead.
Queen wasn’t shy when asked what he expects to do at Maryland. He plans to help bring the Terps back to an elite level.
“[My goals are] winning a Big Ten title, making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament,” Queen said.
For more from Queen, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joe Katuka/Montverde Athletics