Derik Queen slides in latest ESPN draft rankings, talks draft process and shooting questions

With the deadline to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft officially passed, Derik Queen found himself sliding in ESPN’s latest draft board rankings with the former Maryland men’s basketball big man checking in at 13th in Friday’s update.

ESPN: Queen figures to hear his name called in the back half of the lottery thanks to his diverse offensive skill set and productive, successful freshman season at Maryland. While his stock has remained somewhat solid, Queen also didn't necessarily help himself at the combine, where he didn't shoot the ball convincingly in drills, tested poorly and didn't show up in noticeably better playing shape.

His offensive instincts, interior scoring ability and high basketball IQ are still strong selling points, but there was perhaps a missed opportunity to change some of the narratives around him as a prospect, with scouts wanting to see him make major improvements to his frame long-term.

Teams in need of frontcourt help will certainly consider him, with Brooklyn (No. 8), Toronto (No. 9), Portland (No. 11) and Chicago (No. 12) all interesting fits. But there are also scenarios where he ultimately slips further than that, with a wider range due to all the other variables in the lottery. – Woo

Still, Queen will look to become the program’s first lottery selection since Jalen Smith and he sat down on ‘The Kevin O’Connor Show’ this week to dissect his game and the draft process:

On which NBA player Queen compares himself to

"I don't know. I just go with the basic answer that everybody gives me, Jokic. I really try not to compare myself.”

On Queen’s emphasis on three-point shooting

“It’s just all mental and a lot of reps. It’s a work in progress. At the end of my freshman season at Maryland, I started hitting them. It’s just confidence, mental and a lot of reps.”

On Queen’s biggest hurdle heading into the NBA Draft

“It’s a little bit of both. Like the line is far. The line is very far so I mean and it’s just what it’s been like, two or three months since I’ve been working on it. When the months go by, I feel like I’m [going to] be a good shooter. Nobody can criticize my shooting.”

On his game-winning shot vs. Colorado State

“When he hit that three, he shot a little higher than how he usually shoots it and I feel like I got a great contest, he still made it. I was like we’ve got to win this game, we have to win this game.”

“I honestly thought he wouldn’t ask who wanted the ball. I thought he was going to just draw up something for me, but he asked and I told him. We all said like we want the ball, all five of us said us the ball and then I just made it louder. I was louder.”

On describing his game to someone who hasn’t watched him before

“Unexpected. Like somebody at my size, probably don’t see often or probably never seen it. Good rebounder, good passer, good scorer, knows the game well. Just a variety of things.”

On comparisons to Jokic, who Queen idolized growing up

“LeBron of course. James Harden, Melo, Anthony Davis…I used to watch the Big Three, the Heat.”

On Queen’s biggest strength heading into the NBA Draft

“A variety of things like rebounding, scoring, passing. It’s like a lot of stuff that I can say. Even with bad games I consistently help my teammates so it’s a few things.”

On his biggest weakness

“Probably the shooting part.”

“I feel like they already know I’ve been working. They’ve been seeing me over [the] years and see the improvement of it. Just seeing me keep getting better with it. Like I said, I feel like in six months, it’ll be there.”

“Once I start shooting the ball well, people are going to start guarding me different and the way I can handle, get by who’s guarding me. it’s really going to be key. That’s why I’m working on my shot so I can just open up everything.

On the changes in basketball

"The game's definitely evolving. People from all across the world are used to different things. We all come in one spot, one sport to do that. We got guards low-key posting up sometimes. We got bigs wanting to play guard and stuff. It's a great thing for the game. Makes it more fun."

On his favorite move

"Probably that James Harden move.”

“He was so nice. He was winning in Houston. People say he didn't have the guys in Houston. Well, he made it far every year. MVP, averaged 40 in one month. He was killing. He had like 60, 40. The lowest he scored was 27. I just like nice players.”

On the two-big system coming back to the NBA

“It’s not like I can’t shoot it so once I make one or two, people are going to start guarding me different. Like I’m definitely going to take some in a game. It’s definitely going to be fun because that’s what I’m used to play with, two bigs, me and somebody else. I played with another one at Maryland. I just got to go out there and just do what I usually do.”

On what rating Queen would give himself in NBA2K

“Rookie, probably a 73.

On Queen’s first memories of basketball

"My first time, I was so bad. This is a league in Baltimore — it's not for high schoolers, it's for elementary and middle school. It's called BNBL. My coach told me, 'stay on the offensive end. Don't even go down there and play defense.' In a live game, he told me, ‘stay at the end of the court.’ I was so bad at it. I was like five or six [and] somebody told me  —  I ain't gonna say no names — but somebody was like, 'no, this not for you’ at this early age, because I was so bad. That probably was the funniest memory I have."