One day after Julian Reese was named to a preseason watch list, freshman big man Derik Queen has added another preseason accolade after being named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Preseason Watch List.
Queen becomes the first Terp since Qudus Wahab in 2021-22 to be recognized to the preseason watch list and fifth overall, joining Bruno Fernando, Jalen Smith and Diamond Stone. The star Baltimore native has routinely been tabbed as the Terps’ top player in preseason polls, checking in as the 29th-most impact newcomer heading into the 2024-25 season.
“Derik's a top 10 player. Derik, if I was an NBA GM, I would draft him in a heartbeat. I think there's a huge difference in the fact that he's a, probably a once in a lifetime, generational talent. I mean, he is as skilled a big man as I've ever seen on the court. I mean, his first scrimmage, he was phenomenal playing against someone else. So I think his expectations are totally different than what the freshman class we brought in last year was, and I thought Deshawn last year, although his numbers didn't prove it, played as good as any freshman in the conference for the amount of minutes he had to play. So trying not to put as much pressure on freshman. Derik's gonna be playing with three guys, four guys that are they're all juniors and one sophomore.”
Via release:
Queen is heading into his freshman season at Maryland, after being one of the top prep standouts in the previous cycle. Queen was a McDonald's All-American and a consensus five-star recruit. At the 2024 McDonald's All-American Game, Queen was named Co-MVP after scoring 23 points with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. Queen is the second-highest rated recruit to sign with the Terps, between fellow five stars Diamond Stone (No. 8, 2015) and Jalen Smith (No. 15, 2018). Queen helped lead Montverde Academy to a 33-0 record in 2023-24, where he was named a MaxPreps Second Team All-American after leading the team to the Chipotle National Championship and earned All-Tournament honors.
The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 11th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men's college basketball.Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award are Zach Edey, Purdue (2023-24), Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016), and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award
Clifford Omoruyi-Alabama
Motiejus Krivas-Arizona
Jayden Quaintance-Arizona State
Jonas Aidoo-Arkansas
Ryan Kalkbrenner-Creighton
Khaman Maluach-Duke
Oumar Ballo-Indiana
Hunter Dickinson-Kansas
Amari Williams-Kentucky
Derik Queen-Maryland
Vladislav Goldin-Michigan
Dawson Garcia-Minnesota
Malik Dia-Ole Miss
Robbie Avila-St. Louis
Mitchell Saxen-Saint Mary's
Maxime Raynaud-Stanford
Eddie Lampkin Jr.-Syracuse
William Kyle III-UCLA
Samson Johnson-UConn
Efton Reid-Wake Forest
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