Indiana fans are getting tired

Derik Queen busted out of a slump, but will he bust out of College Park for the NBA?​

Where does star Maryland basketball freshman Derik Queen's NBA draft stock stand after a mini-slump followed by a breakout?​

For the first time in his brief college basketball career, Maryland freshman Derik Queen hit a mini-slump recently with two single-digit scoring totals in three games after reaching double-figures in 12 of the first 13 games, averaging fewer than four rebounds per game during the same three games.

The Terps heralded big man bounced back with a starring performance on Monday in Maryland's 77-71 win over Minnesota, scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds.

It'll be a while before we know for sure whether Queen will be one-and-done in Maryland. But if the most recent 2025 NBA Mock Draft projections are an accurate indicator, his days still appear numbered.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo listed Queen at No. 16 in the site's new mock last Thursday. That's a significant climb from Woo's mock most draft a month earlier, when he ranked Queen 23rd overall.

"The Pacers' frontcourt depth has been tested because of several injuries inside, which might cause the team to look at adding a young prospect whom it can develop behind Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner. Queen is one of the most productive freshmen, bringing an advanced feel for the college game and skill level, creating shots for himself and others for Maryland, scoring and drawing fouls prolifically while filling up the box score."

"He has some questions to answer regarding his defense and perimeter shooting. He is not the most modern big man and wouldn't be a fit for every team's roster because of his average mobility, intensity and lack of shooting range. Scouts will be studying his impact in the Big Ten and beyond to get a better gauge of how to weigh his impressive productivity versus his weaknesses."

Queen, one of 25 players named to the Wooden Award last week, has been at his best against Maryland's top opponents. He has five 20-plus-point games, including two against ranked opponents Marquette and Purdue.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has him going 18th to San Antonio in his new mock. He wrote:

"Aside from just finding ways to use his strength and soft hands around the basket, he's showing confidence in his jump shot (despite inconsistent results), counter footwork off the dribble and touch shots.

There will continue to be debate over the legitimacy of his perimeter flashes and how his defense projects at the pro level. But Queen appears to be too productive and skilled with excellent passing IQ for scouts to nitpick outside the top 10."

Derik Queen with 27 points tonight vs. Minnesota. Added to his highlight reel of self-created dunks off drives, which have been most surprising. Three-point shot hasn't fallen but he's been better than I expected in face-up and spot-up situations, using dribble and/or touch. pic.twitter.com/rHQw8zCrUK
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) January 14, 2025

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Also last week, the Sporting News released a new mock, projecting Queen to go to the Pacers with the No. 15 pick

Tankathon recently updated its projections, sending Queen to the Sacramento Kings with the 11th pick. He was also a topic of conversation recently on No Ceilings' 'Draft Sickos' podcast.

"Corey and I both, I believe, had him like sixth overall on our boards. And he hasn't really done much of anything to disappoint me. I know his most recent game [against Washington] was an absolute stinker. But I think every prospect not named Dylan Harper and Cooper Flagg have had them, which is why there's a whole separate tier from those two guys. I love Derik Queen. I can't get enough of him. I'm a sucker for big men with feel. I think every NBA team wants a guy that can not only produce at the level Derik Queen is doing. But if you watch this guy move on a basketball court, he just feels like an NBA big man. Some people are saying Chris Webber, which is like a taboo thing. You're not ever supposed to ever compare anyone to Chris Webber. Reminds me a little bit of DeMarcus Cousins offensively, just being able to handle the ball and pass it. Plus, he's a little bit pudgy," host Maxwell Baumbach said.

"You don't see big men at his size move the way he does, see the court the way that he does. I know that he's not always there defensively. I will acknowledge that ... I just think that he is the best player, obviously, that Maryland has ... Sometimes it's just easy to identify an NBA basketball player on a basketball court simply by the way they move, and Queen has it."

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Change in schedule, official visit added for Top247 edge rusher Zahir Mathis​

Four-star edge rusher Zahir Mathis added an official visit to his itinerary and is rescheduling another.​

The fires ravaging Los Angeles is impacting life in every way in the region, including UCLA football's ability to host prospects.

Philadelphia Imhotep Top247 edge rusher Zahir Mathis, who was slated to make an official visit to campus this weekend, postponed his weekend official visit.

In addition, the top-rated unsigned prospect in the 2025 class locked in an official visit to another Big Ten program later this month.

"He is officially visiting Maryland on Jan. 31," Imhotep associate coach Cyril Woodland said. "UCLA will have to be a mid-week visit now because we have Michigan next weekend."

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Mathis is coming off an official visit to Florida State, but it is not the last time he will see the Seminoles coaching staff.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell is slated to do an in-home with Mathis and his family as the Seminoles push hard to land him.

Figuring out when the trip to UCLA would take place is difficult because of the timing of the dead period, the start of the late signing period Feb. 5 and the fire issues near the UCLA campus.

It means Mathis will have to visit either next week or during the last week of January since his Michigan visit runs Jan. 24-26 and Maryland is Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

"We are trying to get it figured out," Woodland said. "We are talking to (UCLA) about it."

COLLEGE PARK, MD. -- Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley announced the addition of offensive lineman Rahtrel Perry to the Maryland football program on Tuesday.
Perry, who joins the Terrapins after playing two seasons at Central Connecticut State, was ranked as a Top 10 offensive tackle in the transfer portal per 247Sports. Before choosing Maryland, Perry visited Ohio State, Syracuse, Florida State and Pittsburgh.
The Terps have now added 10 student-athletes via the transfer portal since December, including two offensive linemen.
More info on Perry is listed below.

Rahtrel Perry
Offensive Lineman
Redshirt Junior
6-5, 305
New London, CT / Central Connecticut State

• Played in 26 career games across three seasons at Central Connecticut State
• 2024 All-NEC First Team selection
• Started all 13 games in 2024 for a Central Connecticut State that won the NEC and earned a berth in the FCS playoff
• Key part of a Blue Devil offensive line in 2024 that allowed just seven sacks in the regular season and was second in the nation allowing 0.58 sacks per game
• Helped the Blue Devils to the third-best rushing offense in the NEC, averaging 143.3 yards on the ground
• Didn't allow a sack in two games against FBS competition in 2024
• Ranked as a Top-10 offensive tackle in the portal per 247Sports
• All-ECC First Team offense in high school
• Has two years of eligibility remaining

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- One of the greatest wide receivers in Terrapin football history and a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, Geroy Simon has been named Executive Director of Revenue Share Management and General Manager for Maryland Athletics as announced by Damon Evans, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Geroy home to Maryland after an illustrious career as a player and front office executive in the CFL,” said Evans. “His experience in building rosters, working with cap management, business operations, and contract negotiations coupled with his history as a Terrapin legend make him the perfect candidate for this new position at his alma mater. We can’t wait to see the impact Geroy makes with our Maryland programs.”

“Coming home to College Park and working for the Maryland Athletic Department is a dream come true,” said Simon. “I am extremely appreciative of Damon Evans for this new-era role in the changing landscape of college athletics. I am excited to showcase my expertise from a decade of working in the front office in professional sports to help the Terps as the Executive Director of Revenue Share Management and General Manager working with our programs.”

Most recently, Simon served as the General Manager for the Edmonton Elks of the CFL after working as the team’s Assistant General Manager from 2021-24. He handled the management of football operations, salary cap management, contract negotiations, budget management, and direction of player personnel. From 2015-21, he worked in various executive roles with the British Columbia Lions, focusing on scouting, personnel and business development.

Simon was a star wide receiver with the Terps from 1993-96. He ranks second all-time in career receptions (185) and sixth in career receiving yards (2,059). During his All-ACC season of 1994, he set a school record and then-ACC mark for most receptions in a season with 77, a mark that currently stands third all-time. He holds the school record for receptions in a game with 16, set against Florida State in 1995. His personal best of 891 receiving yards in 1994, was third-best in Maryland history following that season and is currently seventh all-time.

After playing with the Terps, Simon was on NFL rosters with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs before going to a Hall of Fame career in the CFL. He played in the CFL from 1999-2013 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1999-2000), BC Lions (2001-12) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013).

Simon compiled a CFL league record 16,352 receiving yards over his 15-year career. His mark of 1,029 career receptions, ranks second all-time and his 103 career touchdown receptions is third all-time in CFL lore. He had 63 career 100-yard games and three more of 200+ yards including a career-high of 238 yards in one game. His nine 1000-yard seasons ranked third all-time when he retired. He holds the CFL’s second-longest receptions streak with 188 consecutive games.

Simon won three Grey Cup Championships, claiming titles in 2006, 2011 and 2013. His teams played in the playoffs in his final 14 seasons. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2006 with the BC Lions as he led the league and set career bests with 105 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. He was selected as a CFL Western All-Star 7 times (2003-2004, 2006-2009 and 2011). He was named a CFL All-Star 6 times in his career (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011). He was awarded the CFLPA All-Star status 4 times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008). In his final season as a player, Simon finished his career with a championship, catching two touchdowns in Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup-winning title game in 2013.

In the role of Executive Director of Revenue Share Management and General Manager, Simon will be responsible for the strategic vision, planning and execution of department-wide revenue-share management. Simon will collaborate with administration coaches and legal counsel on all player contracts, roster construction, and multi-year salary cap management. Additionally, he will also develop and maintain analytical modeling, software and other frameworks to ensure a process-oriented and data-driven approach to salary cap management. He will oversee budget forecasting, including projecting total revenue-sharing and team-specific budgets for all sports, with an emphasis on football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. Simon will start in his role on Jan. 27.

A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Geroy (pronounced GEE-roy) was a high school star basketball player and track and field athlete before earning his football scholarship at Maryland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Maryland in 1996. He is married to former figure skating star and actress Taryn Dakha Simon. Simon’s children are sons Gervon and Jaden, daughters Genevie, Jordan and stepdaughter Malia. Gervon, played football at the United States Military Academy and Jaden, is a wide receiver at the University of Calgary.