Ever since landing the Maryland job, head coach Kevin Willard has made 2024 five-star big man Derik Queen a major priority. His efforts have now been rewarded as Queen announced that he will be returning home to play his college ball for Willard and the Terrapins.
Needless to say, the addition of Queen is a major one for Maryland.
A native of Baltimore who was named a McDonald’s All-American for his efforts at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, the 6-foot-10 center who ranks No. 12 nationally according to 247Sports, Queen said over the weekend that his decision was imminent and he wasn’t kidding.
During his interview with 247Sports analyst Dushawn London, Queen discussed what he liked about the potential of returning home and playing for Maryland.
“They have a good coach over there at Maryland,” said Queen. “It’s his second year doing the job so it’s hard to win. I like how they have Donta Scott who’s getting better and I used to play with the five Julian Reese so that’s good.”
Though he carries a big personality on and off the floor, Queen is generally soft spoken in interviews so we can say what he hasn’t just yet. This is a major win for Willard and his staff and missing out on Queen would have been a pretty devastating recruiting loss.
Fighting off the likes of Houston, Indiana and Kansas for a five-star prospect isn’t easy but given the time and effort that was put into landing Queen, there can’t be any questions about how important he is to the program. He gives them a reliable low post scorer. He will be physically ready for the rigors of the Big Ten and it sends an important message that Willard and Maryland aren’t going out without a fight when it comes to landing a priority local target.
It is a recruiting win that is being rightfully celebrated by Maryland fans.
“I’m bringing a big who can pass, is versatile, and can score,” said Queen but the reality is his commitment means just as much to the program off the floor and in recruiting as it should on the floor when he arrives next season.
Queen joins fellow Baltimore product Malachi Palmer — a three-star guard who ranks No. 124 overall — in Maryland’s 2024 recruiting class. The two-man class will move into the top-40 of the Composite Team Rankings.
