Derik Queen
Derik Queen was born on December 27, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is 20 years old and measures 2.06 m (6 feet 9 inches) or 2.08 m (6 feet 10 inches) and weighs 113 kg (250 pounds). He played high school basketball at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, and Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.
Queen played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins during the 2024-2025 season. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. During his time at Maryland, he earned several honors, including First-team All-Big Ten (2025), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025), and Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025). He was also recognized as Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game (2024) and participated in the Jordan Brand Classic (2024).
In the 2025 NBA draft, Derik Queen was selected 13th overall in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks. However, the pick was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans shortly before it was announced. He is currently under contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, with his playing career starting in 2025. He wears jersey number 22 and plays as a center for the team.
Recently, Queen has been in the news due to an injury. He suffered a scapholunate ligament tear in his left wrist during a Pelicans Summer League game on July 15, 2025, and underwent surgery on July 18, 2025. After being sidelined for three months, the New Orleans Pelicans announced on a Saturday (before October 21, 2025) that Derik Queen had been cleared to resume full basketball activities. He participated in his first full-contact practice and expressed his readiness to join the Pelicans for their first five games.
