Derik Queen is one of the best centers in the 2025 NBA Draft, and his March Madness run cemented his status as an elite prospect.
In the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg going first overall seems to be the only guarantee. Rutgers’ Dylan Harper is second on most draft boards, but the Scarlet Knights finished 15-17 on the season, missing the NCAA Tournament. Most would still have Harper and Ace Bailey near the top, but there are plenty of high-level players who will be selected early.
Maryland’s Derik Queen is one of the very best centers in the draft. He and Duke’s Khaman Maluach have been near the top of draft boards all season, but Queen seems to shine when the lights are brightest, highlighted by a 31-point outing against Michigan in the Big 10 Conference Tournament.
After an underwhelming 2024 Draft Class, the 2025 rookies are poised to be some of the best in recent memory, and Queen could impact winning from day one if he lands in the right situation. He will likely be a lottery pick but will fall outside of the top seven, meaning whoever drafts him likely will already have a face of the franchise.
- Age/Date of Birth: 20 (December 27, 2004)
- Nationality: American
- Height/weight: 6-foot-9, 246lbs
- College: Maryland Terrapins
- Career stats: 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 52.6 FG%, 20 3PT%
- NCAA Tournament stats: 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 50 FG%, 42.9 3PT%
- Career highs: 31 points (vs. Michigan), 20 rebounds (vs. Manhattan), 5 assists (vs. Rutgers and Villanova)
- NBA comparison: Poor man’s Zach Randolph
Queen lives for the big moments. He sent Colorado State packing in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, hitting the first buzzer-beater of March Madness.
He rose to the occasion against the Wolverines in the Big 10 Tournament, but the Terrapins fell short by a single point. Clearly, he is ready for the pressures that come with being in the NBA, and his high school stint at Mountverde Academy should bode well for him.
Outside of his clear mental strengths, Queen boasts insane physicality for an undersized center. He can work in the post like the best players from a bygone era, and has the tools to be able to space the floor, which will be needed for him to take the next steps as a pro.
He is also an underrated playmaker. When the defense collapses, he has no problem kicking the ball out. In college, where 3-point shooting is less automatic, his assist numbers don’t tell the whole story, but when he’s surrounded by elite NBA wings, he should be able to make the most of it.
Standing at 6-foot-9, Queen doesn’t have the size necessary to be an NBA center, but players like Draymond Green and Randolph have been able to overcome what they lack in stature, so the concern there should be minimal.
If the shot doesn’t come around, he will be a very one-dimensional player on offense, although most backup centers are, so it shouldn’t ruin his career.
The biggest concern will be surrounding his lack of athleticism. He can’t meet players at the rim and can’t get above defenders, instead opting to go through them. For Randolph and even DeMarcus Cousins, that worked, but they played in an era when officiating allowed some physicality.
For Queen to have a long NBA career, he will have to improve his shooting or his post moves to better throw defenders off. If he can fix either of those concerns, expect him to be a solid player despite some defensive issues stemming from his lack of height.
In an ideal world, Queen will be drafted as a backup center and will play spot minutes with either an elite shot-blocker or a floor-spacer. If the Utah Jazz decide to trade John Collins, Queen can fit in, although Utah will likely use their pick on a top-five player, so the draft lottery will have to be unfavorable.
If the Indiana Pacers keep Myles Turner, the only healthy centers on their roster at the moment are Tony Bradley and Thomas Bryant. Queen would be an upgrade over both of them, and could share the floor well with Turner while giving Tyrese Haliburton another option inside.
Of course, the best bet would be the San Antonio Spurs. After trading Zach Collins to the Chicago Bulls in the De’Aaron Fox deal, the Spurs enter next season with Victor Wembanyama being the only center under contract. They could re-sign Charles Bassey, Bismack Biyombo, or Sandro Mamukelashvili and will likely bring back one of those players, but the Spurs are the best option for Queen.
The college star would play best with a floor spacer or shot-blocker, and Wembanyama is the very best at both of those in the league.
