Derik Queen's brilliant performance in front of that army of NBA scouts did exactly what you expected
Everyone watching Derik Queen go off for 29 points, 15 rebounds and five assists with 50 NBA scouts in the building had to be sharing the same thought.
Everyone watching Derik Queen go off for 29 points, 15 rebounds and five assists with 50 NBA scouts in the building had to sharing the same thought: "If he wasn't gone before, he is now."
The reality is, Queen has been on a near-certain one-and-done path through College Park to the NBA Draft since he committed to the Terps. But his starring performance Sunday against Rutgers likely had the effect you'd expect it to have on the scouts. It did for ESPN's NBA Draft gurus Jonothan Givony and Jeremy Wood, who bumped Queen up to a new high point at No. 10 in ESPN's new NBA mock Draft on Wednesday.
Queen has landed in the mid-teens to mid-20s in most mock drafts, so that No. 10 ranking was likely boosted by his big day, when he was the best player in a game that included two players projected as top five picks.
"Queen is one of the most skilled, versatile big men in college basketball, a huge mismatch in the post, facing the basket or as a pick-and-roll finisher with elite hands, footwork, body control, strength, passing ability and soft touch. He has had some mesmerizing moments creating shots for himself and teammates, and he looks like one of this draft's best offensive players at times," Govony wrote.
Queen's status as a possible lottery pick comes despite that lackadaisical stretch in January, which Givony noted.
"Queen took some lumps early in Big Ten play, as his apathy defensively, lack of shooting range and limited explosiveness have led to some uninspiring moments against lengthier opponents; his unorthodox profile probably isn't a fit for every NBA team. Queen will have a strong platform with the No. 25-ranked Terrapins to show how his skills translate, which will help determine whether he's a legitimate top 10 prospect or perhaps more of a mid-first-round player," he wrote.
Because of the lottery and because the final records are unknown, it's hard to project which NBA team a prospect will land on. But as of now, ESPN has him landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, with former Maryland standout Aaron Wiggins.
"The Thunder will receive this pick unless it lands in the top six, a scenario that is not entirely off the table given how difficult the Philadelphia 76ers' season has been. Queen would be a big bet on talent, considering his effectiveness and the Thunder's broad positional roster depth, allowing them to take a chance on developing him into a contributor and helping him improve his frame," Woo wrote. "His defensive struggles could be mitigated next to a rim protector such as Chet Holmgren, while his intriguing offensive talent could pop even more on a highly unselfish and well-constructed Thunder team."
Queen, a five-star recruit who was co-MVP at the McDonald's All-American game, is leading Maryland in scoring (15 points per game) and his 8.5 rebounds per game rank a half-rebound per game behind Julian Reese. He's also averaging 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and one block per game, all of which rank second on the team.
"I thought he was dominant. I thought one of the things that we've been talking to Derik about is getting back down low a little bit, using his – he's almost seven-foot now – using his 6-11, 250 frame to get some offensive rebounds, to get some easy buckets, because teams have started to scout him and load up on him. Some of the ISOs that we ran earlier in the year, teams are just knowing what we're doing with him now," Maryland coach Kevin Willard said after the 90-81 win over the Scarlet Knights.
"And he's doing a good job of adjusting to what coaches are now, really throwing a lot of respect at Derik. So, I thought he played phenomenal because he played physical. He was down low. We got a lot of offensive rebounds for easy baskets, and he played just great."
Duke's Cooper Flagg remains the consensus No. 1 pick. Rutgers Dylan Harper, who scored 20 against the Terps on Sunday, was No. 2 in the new mock. His teammate Ace Bailey, who struggled to four points through illness, is the projected third pick. Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis is No. 5, and Queen is the next-highest Big Ten player
Willard said earlier in the season he expects Queen to leave for the NBA after this season.
Maryland fans better [enjoy] watching him, in my opinion, because I don't think he's going to be here next year. He's an old-school-type player, and that's probably the best compliment I can give somebody. He plays like a 50-year-old man. He sees the game that way. He's so smart. He doesn't have to go fast; he doesn't have to – he knows where everybody is. He knows every offense. He puts everybody in the right position. Put him in the NBA situation with a big lane and a bigger arc, I mean that kid's going to be special
