Derik Queen took the college basketball scene by storm the past season with his big-body style of play. Queen had a phenomenal season for the Maryland Terrapins in just his freshman year. The Baltimore native’s play helped him shoot up NBA Draft boards
But where did Queen learn his basketball acumen from? Let’s take a deep dive into the NBA Draft prospect’s personal and familial life.
Who Are Derik Queen’s Parents?
Queen was born on December 27, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother is Lisa Anderson. Details about his father remain unknown, as it appears he may not have been present in Queen’s life.
From an early age, Queen fell in love with basketball. Since kindergarten, he had been known to head to the nearest park in Baltimore, playing with friends until the streetlights came on.
“He always had a basketball,” Anderson recalled. “I was never worried about him getting into trouble.” She described her son as independent, determined, and eager to learn, all traits that have shaped his character and success on the court.
That dedication paid off when Queen made the life-changing decision to leave Baltimore at age 16 and transfer to prep school powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida, a program known for producing NBA talent.
While there, he played alongside three top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft: potential No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley, and Asa Newell, all projected to be first-rounders in this draft.
@nba Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley, Asa Newell, and Derik Queen reflect on their Montverde Academy team photo and their basketball journeys 🤩 The 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm begins June 25th at 8pm/ET on ABC + ESPN ✍️ #NBA #NBAFutureStartsNow #basketball ♬ original sound – NBA
A Rise to Stardom at Maryland & A Look Into Queen’s Possible Draft Selection
The 6-foot-10 big man isn’t a traditional center by height standards, but his sturdy 246-pound frame more than makes up for it.
Throughout the season, Queen flashed guard-like handles and fluid movement, consistently creating mismatches. He exposed slower bigs with his dribble package and punished smaller defenders in the post, getting to the basket at will.
Queen helped lead his hometown Terrapins to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in their region. Though they eventually fell to the national champion Florida Gators, Queen made his presence felt, dropping 27 points and grabbing five rebounds in the loss, showcasing his ability to rise in big moments.
In our latest mock draft, Cam Mellor has Queen projected to go fifth overall to the Utah Jazz. With Utah rumored to be considering changes in their frontcourt, Queen could slot in seamlessly alongside the team’s growing core of young talent.
After a standout freshman year, Queen enters the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most unique offensive big men in recent memory. Teams in need of a scoring punch from the center position should keep a close eye on the Baltimore native.
