Maryland’s star center is cashing out on his one shining moment.
After the former five-star recruit banked in a buzzer-beater against No. 12 Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday to send the Terrapins to the Sweet 16, fast food chain Dairy Queen inked Derik Queen to an NIL deal, capitalizing on their shared last name.
Maryland Center Derik Queen Lands a Dairy Queen NIL Deal
As part of Queen’s deal with Dairy Queen, the center will star in a handful of videos promoting the chain and its signature Blizzard, according to On3 NIL. Queen already shot his first commercial in a San Francisco hotel Thursday, according to cllct’s Darren Rovell. The advertisement reportedly features a chocolate-dipped pecan and caramel treat, Turtles Blizzard, a play on Maryland’s Terrapin mascot.
Dairy Queen, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has 24 stores in Maryland, according to the company’s website.
The deal was negotiated by Playfly and coordinated through One Maryland Collective, but details were not disclosed, according to Rovell.
Queen also cashed out with a T-shirt deal with Breaking T, a company that licenses and creates shirts on a short turnaround for viral moments.
Queen, who according to head coach Kevin Willard called for the ball before hitting the game winner, was Maryland’s leading scorer and rebounder this year, averaging 16.2 points and 9.1 rebounds.
“I asked everybody. I said, ‘Who wants the ball?’” Willard said. “He said, ‘Give me the MF ball.’ I said, ‘Alright, you’re getting it.’”
KEEP READING: Will Kevin Willard Leave Maryland for Villanova? Inside the Power Conference Coaching Drama
Now, Queen and the Terrapins are gearing up for a run past the second weekend as they prepare to face No. 1 Florida on Thursday night. Queen, who is viewed as a potential NBA lottery pick, will need another big game after putting up 12 points and 15 rebounds against Grand Canyon in Round 1 and 17 against Colorado State in Round 2.
Maybe he’ll have another shining moment.
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