Derik Queen enters NBA draft following successful freshman season
- Star freshman Derik Queen averaged 16.5 points per game this season and played a key role in his team's NCAA Tournament run.
- Maryland's head coach Kevin Willard left for Villanova, leading to the hiring of Buzz Williams as his replacement.
- With multiple players leaving, including Queen, Maryland faces a significant rebuilding challenge for the next season.
In April 2025, college basketball player Derik Queen, a star freshman for the University of Maryland, announced his decision to enter the NBA draft. This announcement was made during an interview segment on ESPN. Queen had an impressive season, averaging 16.5 points per game, and made headlines with a crucial bank shot at the buzzer to secure a narrow victory for the Terrapins against Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His performance throughout the season contributed significantly to the team's success. As Queen moves on, the Maryland Terrapins are facing significant changes. The team has seen a substantial shift in its roster, including the loss of their head coach Kevin Willard, who recently accepted a position at Villanova. The Terrapins have replaced Willard with Buzz Williams from Texas A&M in hopes of maintaining competitive performance in the upcoming season. This transition adds to the uncertainty surrounding the team's future as they have potentially lost all five members of their starting lineup, referred to as the "Crab Five." Two players from the lineup have already exhausted their eligibility, while two others have entered the transfer portal, seeking opportunities elsewhere. With these departures, Queen’s entry into the NBA draft signals a pivotal moment for Maryland basketball, indicating they may need to rebuild for the upcoming season. Losing such key players all at once raises concerns about the team's ability to remain competitive at a high level in college basketball. Queen's decision to declare for the draft follows a season where his contributions were crucial to the team's overall performance. As he embarks on this new chapter, it remains to be seen how his departure will affect the program. The Terrapins will have to adapt to the changing dynamics of their roster while also adjusting to a new coaching strategy under Williams. The outcome of these transitions will likely define the future of the Maryland basketball program as they prepare for next season.