Analyzing the impact of Derik Queen's commitment, what's next (+)

Maryland basketball landed its biggest pledge of the Kevin Willard era after five-star center Derik Queen went public with his pledge on Wednesday evening, giving the Terps their top overall target in the cycle and a target that the staff has prioritized since the day Willard arrived in College Park. After Malachi Palmer’s pledge back in January ended a year-long commitment drought for head coach Kevin Willard, the Terps have major juice on the trail again as Queen’s pledge marks arguably the program’s most impactful commitment since Melo Trimble.

Queen’s commitment is the signature recruiting win that head coach Kevin Willard needed, especially in the NIL era, after making it clear the DMV was a top focus upon his hire. After making the move from Seton Hall, Willard didn’t waste putting that plan into motion as Queen was among the first visitors to step on campus as former assistant Tony Skinn tapped into his Baltimore connections to get the five-star and his mom on campus and comfortable with Willard’s style of program in College Park. Indiana long proved to be the biggest challenger for Maryland, even through the two-year recruitment of the five-star center despite Houston and Kansas entering the fray, but the Terps’ early connections to Queen — both along the roster and staff — bolstered confidence around Queen’s chances to stay local.

Maryland had to overcome the departure of Tony Skinn over the summer, while Tevon Saddler’s departure was another familiar face now gone from the program, but the staff responded with an all-out effort to keep the Baltimore native home as assistant David Cox quickly picked up the pieces with Willard remaining active in the chase. NIL has long been a point of emphasis for the five-star, but not a deciding factor for Queen or his camp. Even still, Willard was consistent with fundraising efforts dating back to the late spring back in 2022 through the summer to ensure that NIL wouldn’t be the reason Maryland missed on its top target. That sentiment carried into the early signing period, where confidence remained the Terps were able to offer what Queen commanded, and extended into the new year as the pressure to land the prized target mounted.

Queen’s decision to hold off on a commitment beyond the early signing period ultimately gave him a chance to monitor what his situation could look like at his finalists next season roster-wise, but local contacts pointed back the allure for Derik Queen to return home as key selling points in why the five-star remained high on the Terps through the chase. Maryland was also able to reinforce its pitch for Queen to become a focal point on the team next season, and after two years of leaning toward a return home, a source confirmed that Queen gave Willard his word on Sunday before the five-star notified his remaining finalists on Tuesday evening, going public on Wednesday evening.

Queen became the second commitment in Maryland’s 2024 class with the portal expected to become the primary focus the rest of the way, but Maryland has also been involved with OTE four-star Efe Oliogu – a 2025 prospect who remains a reclass candidate — but are in holding pattern with Oliougu still undecided heading into the spring.

The biggest domino now turns to the portal where Kevin Willard will be active this offseason with multiple roster needs heading into 2024-25. Attrition will be expected with pressure on Willard to rebuild the roster and the need to replace Jahmir Young and despite the portal being closed for another month, all eyes now turn to former Virginia Tech guard Rodney Rice. The former four-star was back in College Park over the weekend where he was able to take in his third game in 2024, making Maryland the only school he’s visited since departing from Virginia Tech. A source told IBG last month that a potential visit to Georgetown was one Rice’s camp is interested in, but interest remains one-sided for now. With the NCAA currently counting the 2023-24 season as a year of eligibility against Rice, a source added that Rice isn’t pressed to make a quick move ahead of the portal opening on March 20, but there’s confidence in Maryland’s ultimate chances of signing the point guard with assistant Mike Jones leading the way. Maryland should be viewed as the team to beat for Rice moving forward, potentially giving Willard a second former DeMatha point guard to help fill the shoes of the departed former DeMatha point guard.

What about the impact on the high school trail? Who could Queen’s commitment have the biggest impact on? Tyler Jackson and Chance Mallory are the two priority local targets that Maryland should have improved chances with heading into the spring.

Jackson, the four-star point guard who once teamed up with Queen at St. Frances before Queen transferred to Montverde Academy and Jackson went to OTE for his junior season, has been a familiar face in College Park having visited for at least three games under Willard. Queen and Jackson were last on campus for the Coppin State game back on Dec. 28 and assistant David Cox has led the way with the Baltimore native since then.

“Maryland stayed the same, they stayed consistent,” he told IBG. “I love Maryland. I like them a lot. They’ve been there since I was a freshman so even when they were recruiting Jahn [Lamothe] in high school, I’ve always been familiar with Maryland. Coach Cox, coach Manning. Everybody’s been reaching out. I’ve been talking with them a lot.”

Jackson confirmed with IBG that he’s in talks with Maryland about an official visit following Queen’s commitment. Whether Jackson materializes into Maryland’s most realistic point guard target remains to be seen, but that now becomes a viable path with the Terps a familiar face early on and another familiar face in College Park. An official visit to Maryland is on the table, one contact told IBG, while the four-star himself told IBG that he’s in talks with the staff about setting up a date.

Mallory, meanwhile, has long sat high on Maryland’s wishlist at point guard in the 2025 cycle with assistant Greg Manning Jr. leading the way ever since officially jumping into the mix last summer. The Team Thrill connection bolsters Maryland’s chances of chipping away at Virginia for the Virginia four-star given the Team Thrill connection between Queen and Mallory as the staff works to secure a summer official. Queen made his quick pitch to his teammate following Wednesday’s decision.

Maryland also saw Sidwell Friends (DC) four-star Acaden Lewis visit last weekend, though there’s still work left to secure an official visit with Georgetown and Virginia in his top group. Four-star guard Nyk Lewis made his way to College Park for a pair of unofficial visits alongside four-star Christian Gurdak, who has Maryland in his top group alongside Iowa and Notre Dame, but Lewis may be the prospect with the most ground to gain moving forward. Maryland has also been evaluating Gonzaga guard Derek Dixon with a need to add sharpshooting, a trait the four-star has flashed through his junior season, as the top-100 local prospect remains a name to know. Maryland has been among the most consistent schools for four-star guard Adrien Stevens, who also visited for the Illinois game, while top-50 prospect and Largo (MD) four-star Cam Ward remains arguably the top target in the 2025 cycle.

And after a two-year pursuit by Willard ended in a pledge from five-star Derik Queen, Maryland will go full steam ahead with efforts to infuse more local talent inside the Xfinity Center heading into the offseason.

VIP: analyzing the impact of Derik Queen’s commitment, what’s next

Ahmed Ghafir