Top-15 recruit Derik Queen commits to Maryland

Derik Queen has made his college decision. The 6-foot-9 center is headed back home and will attend the University of Maryland. The Baltimore native chose the ‘Terps over Indiana, Kansas, and Houston.

Ranked No. 15 nationally in the class of 2024, Queen is the second highest-ranked recruit to choose Maryland in the modern recruiting era. Only Diamond Stone (2015) ranked higher.

Queen, a senior at Monteverde Academy (FL), discussed his commitment to Maryland with On3.

“I chose Maryland because I felt the most comfortable there and it’ll be a great fit,” he says.

His relationship with the coaching staff also played a large role in his decision.

“Our relationship is great. It all started in the 10th grade.”

Queen has a message for Terps fans.

“Make Maryland great again.”

Derik Queen becomes Kevin Willard’s second commitment in the 2024 class, joining three-star SG Malachi Palmer (No. 135 overall).

Scouting Report

“Derik Queen is a big-framed post-player. He is very skilled, with big hands, strength, and confidence with the ball. Can score on the block, over both shoulders. He has footwork, patience, and an array of counters over both shoulders. While he can face up and attack in short bursts off the bounce, he needs to continue ironing out his shooting mechanics. The athleticism remains the big question. Where does he guard moving forward as a below-the-rim post? He does understand angles as a team defender. When the motor is running hot, he is a good area rebounder and is an adept scorer at multiple levels. His strength and footwork make him a matchup nightmare at the high school level. He plays with a lot of confidence. But he also has a natural basketball feel and IQ.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw

Derik Queen’s On3 NIL Valuation worth over $300K

Derik Queen’s current On3 NIL Valuation is $320,000. This valuation currently places him No. 17 in the On3 high school basketball NIL Ranking. 

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college-level athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a specific moment in time.

The On3 NIL Valuation is comprised of many dynamic data points that focus on three primary categories: social media, athletic performance, and endorsements and collectives.

The On3 NIL Valuation is publicly available. Performance, Influence, and Exposure ratings along with the athlete’s personal Brand Value Index and Roster Value Index are available only to the athlete in the “Athlete Verified” private dashboard on the On3 Athlete Network.

About Queen

Derik Queen is originally from Baltimore, and he began his high school career at St. Francis Academy before transferring to national powerhouse program Montverde Academy. When he was just 17 years old, Queen was the only member of the 2024 recruiting class invited to try out for the USA U18 National Team. Queen didn’t make the cut with the older team, but he left a lasting impression on his peers and coaches. “Derik has a very versatile skill set for his size,” USA Basketball coach Don Showalter told Zagsblog. “I especially like to way he competes on the court every play and obviously loves the game.” Queen said he likes impacting the game by scoring, rebounding and playing defense. “I also like making plays for my teammates, talking and knowing where everybody is supposed to be,” Queen told Zagsblog.

During his junior season at Montverde, Queen averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and shot 64%. He played AAU basketball for Team Thrill, a member of the Under Armour Association.