The 2025 NBA Draft, slated for June 25 at Barclays Center, highlights elite prospects like Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the expected No. 1 pick. Among the 13 players granted access to the exclusive Green Room was Maryland’s Derik Queen, a 6’10” freshman center whose inclusion stirred debate.
The Green Room, reserved for top-tier talents and their families, serves as the draft’s spotlight stage. Queen’s invite raised questions about whether his freshman resume warranted such recognition. As one of the initial 13 named, Queen’s presence in this VIP circle sparked strong opinions across the league about merit and projection.
Green Room Spotlight: Derik Queen’s Place Among 2025 NBA Draft Elites
As the 2025 NBA Draft draws near, Queen stands among 13 top prospects invited to the league’s exclusive Green Room at Barclays Center.
This group also features Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, Kasparas Jakucionis, Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, and Asa Newell. Queen’s selection has generated both praise and debate within the basketball world.
Each year, the NBA polls team executives to identify 25 prospects expected to go early in the draft. This process helps ensure that those invited are near-locks for first-round picks, avoiding prolonged waits. Queen’s inclusion in the initial batch of invites signals clear confidence in his stock across the league.
NEWS: Maryland big man Derik Queen has received a green room invite to attend the NBA Draft with his family, a source told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/z0S2KAO3yb
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 10, 2025
Queen’s length was measured with a 7-foot wingspan at the NBA Combine.
“One of the cleanest defenders in the draft… needs to be a lot better on the offensive glass if he wants to be an NBA big man though,” a fan on X wrote.
The 6’10” Maryland freshman made significant waves this season, averaging 16.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks over 36 games while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.
He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and played a key role in Maryland’s first Sweet 16 run since 2016. He also earned an AP All-America honorable mention and set the school’s freshman scoring record with 594 points, including 12 20-point outings and 15 double-doubles, the most among first-year players nationally.
CBS Sports recently projected Queen to go No. 9 overall to the Toronto Raptors, describing him as an “intriguing lottery option.”
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“Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves, and crafty finishes like his game-winning leaning jumper to send Maryland to the Sweet 16,” Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports noted.
With his talent, production, and rising momentum, Queen enters draft night in a fascinating position, one that promises to be closely watched as the NBA Draft unfolds.
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