The long wait is finally over as Montverde Academy (FL) five-star center and Baltimore native Derik Queen has officially announced his pledge to Maryland, giving head coach Kevin Willard his biggest recruiting win as head coach with the staff’s top target choosing the Terps over Indiana, Houston and Kansas.
In the end, the Baltimore native and longtime Maryland lean opts to return home as head coach Kevin Willard beats out Mike Woodson, Bill Self and Kelvin Sampson for the elite center. Queen, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound center, becomes the second commitment in Maryland’s 2024 class and undeniably the biggest pledge of the Willard era.
The pursuit of the five-star big man began almost immediately after Kevin Willard was announced as Maryland’s new head coach back in March of 2022. Queen was among the first visitors to campus as, initially led by former assistant Tony Skinn, the Terps made the Baltimore native an early priority while still at St. Frances (MD). With Indiana emerging as the top contender in the early stages of his recruitment, Queen took his first official visit to Maryland the weekend of Oct. 1, 2022, but his recruitment was far from over with plenty of back and forth throughout.
Houston became an increasingly bigger factor last summer with their ties to Team Thrill, while head coach Bill Self was active in his recruitment with Kansas the first school to host him for an official visit last fall beginning Sept. 1. Queen followed it up with his second official visit to Indiana the following weekend before Houston hosted the five-star during the first weekend of October. That gave Maryland the last chance in his recruitment with an official visit back on Oct. 21 expected to be the last visit before the early signing period—Queen’s initial commitment timeframe. But that came and went as Maryland and Indiana jockeyed for position through the winter with assistant David Cox leading the Terps’ efforts alongside Willard.
Since postponing his decision, Maryland made the trip down to Montverde Academy (FL) to check on the top 2024 target as Willard and Co. never wavered in confidence, while Queen and his mom returned the favor by taking an unofficial visit to Maryland for the Coppin State game during Montverde’s winter break to give the Terps the last two visits in his recruitment. The consistency paid off in the end as Maryland now has its star big man for Kevin Willard’s third season as head coach.
Head coach Kevin Willard will look to the portal this offseason to fill Jahmir Young’s role while adding shooters will be a hot topic, but Queen now bolsters the prospects of Maryland’s frontcourt in 2024-25 with all eyes on Julian Reese heading into his senior season, giving the Terps a chance for the pair of former St. Frances teammates to share the floor once again.
Queen also reunites with former St. Frances and current Maryland freshman guard Jahn Lamothe as the Baltimore duo became instant targets after Willard’s arrival. “It was good because Jahn has been up there a lot of times. He was telling me the ways of the school and stuff,” he said after his first official visit to Maryland.
Derik Queen now becomes the second commitment in Maryland’s 2024 class, joining Mt. Zion Prep (MD) three-star guard Malachi Palmer.
Queen’s commitment gives Maryland undoubtedly its biggest recruiting win of the Willard era and arguably since Melo Trimble. Queen is now the second-highest-rated pledge in program history behind Diamond Stone.
Queen becomes the first Terp pledge to be selected to the McDonald’s All-American game since Jalen Smith back in 2018. Queen was one of three starters from Montverde to be named a McDonald’s All-American with the game scheduled for April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston. Queen averaged 17.6 points on the EYBL along with 8.7 rebounds, good for second in the league, while shooting 61% from the field.
With his recruitment now complete, Queen is expected to sign with Maryland during the late signing window beginning April 17.
On3 scouting report:
Derik Queen is a big-framed post player. He is very skilled, with big hands, strength, and confidence with the ball. He can score on the block, over both shoulders. He has footwork, patience, and an array of counters over both shoulders. He can face up and knock down a shot from three. He can also attack off the bounce as a trail big or from the high post. The athleticism is a question. Where does he guard moving forward as a below-the-rim post? When the motor is running hot, he is a good area rebounder and is an adept scorer at multiple levels.
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