Derik Queen knows he’s unique. Two of his coaches told him that if he were European, he’d be a top overall pick. He’s opted for self-deprecating humor, calling himself “fat boy” on X. And in a moment of self-awareness, he offered a striking observation: no American plays basketball like he does.
The Baltimore native’s game is distinctive. The numbers are undeniable. He became the sixth college freshman since 1980 to average 15 points, eight rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 50% from the field, according to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. But at the NBA combine, he posted some of the lowest athletic testing numbers in the past five years.
That’s why the former Maryland forward is such an unorthodox prospect. The Ringer placed Queen at No. 8 on its draft board, while ESPN’s most recent mock draft projected him to be selected No. 15 overall. Few prospects have a wider projected draft range than Queen.
His footwork in the paint resembles a 1980s big man, while his passing and vision from the low block are akin to modern forwards. On the other hand, Queen had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio.
“I think he’s a lot better passer than his numbers show. I don’t think people really saw how good he really is as a passer this year,” NBA draft analyst Rafael Barlowe said.
He can shoot, converting 45% of his 3s in the final month of the season and flashing the floor spacing that NBA scouts desire out of big men. Queen’s AAU coach, Woody Gunter, said he expects Queen’s jumper to translate to the league.
But the larger sample size reveals some serious questions: he rarely took any jumpers in high school, shot 20% from 3-point range in his lone season at Maryland and made only 45% of his shots at the NBA combine.
“We were not overly worried about his shooting,” Mount St. Mary’s coach Donny Lind, who faced Queen in the second game of the season, said.
Defensively, he was one of the best rebounders in the Big Ten and is better than advertised at moving his feet laterally. Former Terps coach Kevin Willard felt comfortable using him in the full-court press and alongside another big man in Julian Reese.
But he also was insulated by Maryland’s defensive scheme, as Willard played him as close to the hoop as possible and pre-switched opposing teams’ actions to avoid Queen being dragged to the perimeter. And there are concerns about his athletic fit in the NBA.
Queen finished with a 12.45 lane agility drill, the worst time in this year’s class and the third lowest score in the previous five years of the NBA draft combine. His 28-inch maximum vertical was tied for the second-lowest this year.
“I thought [Maryland] was worried that he couldn’t guard little shifty guards and switches and things like that. We definitely tried to attack, and I thought we had some success,” Lind said. “I think other teams, offensively, they’re going to attack him on the defensive end with switching, [using] their guards and trying to get [Queen] into foul trouble, get into his body and try to see if he can keep people out of the lane without putting two hands on them.”
Queen shed more than 20 pounds during his freshman season in College Park. His lateral agility is better than advertised, according to several draft experts. It’s possible that in the NBA, with increased resources to help his conditioning, he could eventually be an effective power forward. College basketball analyst and former Michigan forward Anthony Wright said he thought Queen could’ve made the All-Big Ten defensive team.
Team fit always matters in determining a prospect’s future. But in Queen’s case, his destination might matter more than it does for most players.
“If Queen gets a situation like [where a team says] ‘No, we’re gonna build around you. We’re gonna run everything through you, and you’re gonna be our post hub,’ then I think he can definitely be an All-Star,” Barlowe said.
The Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans were mentioned as strong team fits for Queen.
On Wednesday night, Queen is expected to become the third Baltimore native in as many years to be selected in the first round. He might even shout out the city on national television again. Gunter, who speaks to Queen nearly every day, said the 20-year-old is anxious to find his next home.
“He’s still one of the more polarizing players through this draft process, but I am more on the side of it going to work, because he just knows how to play,” Wright said. “I’m a huge fan of Derik Queen at the next level.”
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