Derik Queen

Draft Notes

Queen is a beefy post player with a very high skill level. He’s put in a ton of work on his body and is becoming a more mobile player and a more fluid athlete.

He’s got great hands, awesome footwork in the post and a very good touch around the rim. He can overpower defenders in the lane and great space for baby hooks and layups.

Queen is a very high level passer for a big man and excels at finding cutters and kicking the ball out of double teams.

Has a developing mid range and outside shot and will probably stretch the floor at the next level.

Plays with energy and intensity. Rebounds the ball well and does all the dirty work, while also being a high level interior scorer.

Isn’t the most mobile or twitchy player but has improved his foot speed and has enough athletic juice for the NBA level. Has decent feet on defense and moves surprisingly well for a player his size but can struggle to stay in front of guards and is also not a true rim protector.

Comparisons

• Wendell Carter Jr.

Draft Projection

late lottery to mid first round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

2025 C Rankings

1. Khamam Maluach – 7-2 – Duke (South Sudan)
2. Derik Queen – 6-10 – Maryland
3. Thomas Sorber – 6-11 – Georgetown
4. Joan Beringer – 7-0 – France
5. Danny Wolf – 7-0 – Michigan
6. Hansen Yang – 7-1 – China
7. Ryan Kalkbrenner – 7-2 – Creighton
8. Maxime Raynaud – 7-1 – Stanford (France)
9. Yanic Konan Niederhauser – 7-0 – Penn State (Switzerland)
10. Rocco Zikarsky – 7-3 – Australia
11. Amari Williams – 7-0 – Kentucky (England)
12. Lacklan Olbrich – 6-10 – Illawarra Hawks, NBL
13. Vladislav Goldin – 7-1 – Michigan (Russia)
14. Viktor Lakhin – 6-11 – Clemson (Russia)
15. Dylan Caldwell – 6-11 – Auburn
16. Clifford Omoruyi – 6-11 – Alabama (Nigeria) 
17. Jonas Aidoo – 6-11 – Arkansas
18. Braxton Meah – 7-1 – Nebraska
19. Hunter Dickinson – 7-1 – Kansas
20. Oumar Ballo – 6-10 – Indiana (Mali)