Maryland big man Derik Queen has his flaws, but he also has the potential to be a special offensive player at the NBA level.
Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Maryland’s Derik Queen.
Few freshmen in the country had a better season than Maryland’s Derik Queen in 2024-25. Queen led the Terrapins to the Sweet 16, hitting an incredible buzzer-beating basket to help Maryland advance over Colorado State. The Baltimore native received plenty of accolades, making the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and being named All-Big Ten First Team. He also took home the conference’s Rookie of the Year over guys like Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
Profile
2024-25 Stats: 36 games, 30.4 minutes, 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 52.6% FG, 20.0% 3P, 76.6% FT
Team: Maryland
Year: Freshman
Position: C
Height & Weight: 6’9.25” (without shoes) | 247.8 lbs
Born: December 27, 2004 (20 years old)
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Strengths
Queen is a remarkably skilled big man. He has outstanding footwork and great touch. For a big, he has an excellent handle which allows him to face the basket, but he also has the strength to play in the post. While he didn’t take many threes during his lone college season, there’s enough there to suggest he could stretch the floor at the next level.
He’s a high-level shot and advantage creator. His feel and passing flashes jump off the film. It’s not difficult to envision him operating as an offensive hub in the NBA. He’s a difficult player to scheme against with his ability to manipulate defenses and navigate double teams.
While his defense won’t be viewed as a strength (more on that later), he is a strong rebounder. He pulled down 2.3 offensive boards per game this past season.
It also doesn’t hurt that Queen is a supremely confident player who wants the ball in big spots.
Weaknesses
Defense is going to be a sore spot for Queen. He’s not a great rim protector and he could struggle in space at the next level. There’s some thought that Queen could play a little four in the NBA. More athletic fours could present some problems.
While there is evidence to suggest Queen will be able to stretch the floor, he shot only 7-of-35 from deep this past season. The positive is that five of those seven makes came over Queen’s last four games in which he hit 5-of-11 from three. Again, his touch inside the arc and free throw shooting are positive indicators, but he’ll have to prove it in the pros.
It’s worth noting that there were concerns about Queen’s fitness level heading into his freshman season. Before everyone does a “here we go again!” Queen appeared to take care of his body at Maryland and came to the combine in great shape.
Positional Fit
Drafting centers high is almost akin to taking running backs high in the NFL Draft — if you’re going to take one, they better be special and you better have a roster that fits. I believe he can be special. Do the Sixers have a roster that fits him? Yes and no.
In the present, he’d be a strong Joel Embiid backup and, if he’s able to play some four, could give Nick Nurse interesting lineup options. If Queen can share the floor with Embiid and Adem Bona, his immediate value skyrockets. His rebounding numbers were important to point out, as that could be a way to get on the floor early, with it being such a sore spot for the Sixers.
Long-term, holy moly, just imagine him running DHOs with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Good luck, defenses. But those lineups would have considerable defensive concerns. With the way the NBA is trending, maybe you can add a couple high-level defensive wings and make it work.
Queen would be a tricky fit, but if the Sixers believe he is the third-best player — or the best player after trading back — they should take him.
Draft Projection
SB Nation mock draft: No. 6, Washington Wizards
It would be super cool to see Queen wind up playing for the Wizards and with fellow Baltimore native Bub Carrington. Those two could form a seriously dangerous pick-and-roll duo for years to come. SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell is (I believe correctly) a little higher on Queen than the consensus. No. 6 seems to be the start of Queen’s range. I would be surprised if he falls out of the top 10, but if he does, someone is getting a potential steal.