Derik Queen Declares for 2025 NBA Draft After 1 Season at Maryland

Queen Announces Decision on SportsCenter

Maryland freshman sensation Derik Queen has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, making the announcement during an appearance on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt on Friday. The move comes after a stellar single season with the Terrapins that saw the team advance to the Sweet 16.

Queen's decision doesn't come as a surprise to basketball analysts, as the 5-star recruit has firmly established himself as one of the premier prospects in this year's draft class. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman currently ranks Queen as the No. 7 overall prospect and projected him going fifth overall to the Brooklyn Nets in his most recent mock draft.

Tournament Heroics and Impressive Season Stats

Queen cemented his place in Maryland basketball lore during this year's NCAA Tournament when he hit a dramatic buzzer-beater against Colorado State in the second round, securing a 72-71 victory for the Terrapins. That clutch performance highlighted what had already been an outstanding freshman campaign.

As Maryland's leading scorer, Queen averaged 16.5 points per game while also tying for the team lead with 9.0 rebounds per contest. His combination of scoring versatility, skill level, and passing IQ has drawn comparisons to Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün, though scouts note he still has room for improvement defensively.

Maryland's Uncertain Future

Queen's departure comes during a period of significant transition for the Maryland program. Head coach Kevin Williams recently accepted the head coaching position at Villanova, triggering several key departures. The team's second and third-leading scorers, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice, have both entered the transfer portal, with Gillespie already committing to Tennessee.

The exodus leaves Maryland facing a substantial rebuild after their most successful season since 2015-16, when they won 27 games and reached the Sweet 16 before falling to Florida.

A Natural Next Step

For Queen personally, the decision represents a natural progression after accomplishing everything he could reasonably be expected to achieve in his lone collegiate season. With his production, tournament heroics, and projected draft position, Queen's choice to forego his remaining eligibility makes perfect sense as he prepares to take his talents to the professional level.

Basketball fans will now eagerly await the 2025 NBA Draft to see which franchise secures the services of one of college basketball's most promising young big men.