The Pelicans traded up to select Maryland Center Derik Queen at 13th overall.
New Orleans acquired the draft rights to Derik Queen (13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Asa Newell (23rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) and a future first round pick.
Queen, 6-9, 248, spent one season at the University of Maryland where he was named the 2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist after finishing tied for first in the Big Ten and ranking 14th nationally with 15 double-doubles (most among freshmen). Queen played in 36 games for the Terrapins and averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game.
NBA.com Overview
After an incredible season at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, which included a 56-point game, Queen was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year and transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida. It took some time for Queen to earn playing time at the high school powerhouse, but he emerged as a star by his senior season and earned MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. Queen started all 36 of his appearances during his lone season at Maryland, averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 30.4 minutes. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound big man was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Career Highlights
- 2024-25 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection.
- 2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist.
- 2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first top league freshman at Maryland since Joe Smith in 1993-94 (ACC).
- 2024-25 All-Big Ten First Team choice by coaches and Second Team by media.
- Co-MVP of the 2024 McDonald’s High School All-American Game.
Personal Info
- Maryland teammates called him “Baby Jokić.”
- If he could have dinner with three people, he’d choose LeBron James, Denzel Washington and Nicki Minaj.
- Played high school basketball at Montverde Academy with fellow 2025 NBA Draft prospects Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Asa Newell.
READ MORE:FULL INTERVIEW: Meet Pelicans rookie, 13th overall pick Derik Queen
