FULL INTERVIEW: Meet Pelicans rookie, 13th overall pick Derik Queen
Thank you. Good, yes. So Derek, uh, how much were you able to communicate with the Pelicans during the pre-draft process and what are your thoughts about, uh, joining the team? Uh, so like I, I probably talked to him the most, uh, I’m, I’m, I’m pretty close with Troy Weaver son, so, uh, I used to call him and just make jokes with, with him about me going to the Pelicans, but I’m excited to be finally be *** pelican. What can you bring to this team, you bring to this team, you feel like. Uh, I can, I can bring one in. I feel like I want every, everywhere. I can fit in wherever, be *** facilitator, score, defensive player, whatever. I just want to help the team win and, and have *** long career in, in New Orleans. Well. Think of this team with Za and also tonight drafting Jeremiah Pearce. can you say that one more time? Yeah, Derek, what do you think of this team’s roster, including Zion, and then also, what do you think of the Pelicans selecting Jeremiah Fis? Uh, I feel like Joe Dumas and Troy, and Troy Weaver do *** great job of, they’re pretty good at their job, like they, like, uh, Joe Dumas was at the, was at the Pistons, uh, built the the Pistons, and then Troy Weaver also at the Pistons and went to the Wizards. So I feel like they did *** good job with this draft class and trying to, um, and, and trying to get the Pelicans to the back to the playoffs. What does it mean to you, the fact that they traded up, you know, *** nice asset, 10 picks to get you, what does that mean? Uh, it, it means *** lot for, uh, to show like how much they want me, how much they believe in me, and, um, and I, I’m just, I’m just, I’m just ready to show them like, like they got like they got their money’s worth and, and I’m, I’m just ready to put on for the Pelicans. Eric, did you have *** favorite player, player growing up or just skills are similar to? Uh, my favorite player was always LeBron, but I, I, I don’t play like him. I always kept *** ball with me and just developed, uh, don’t matter dribbling in the street, uh, for shooting, whatever, I always worked on my game. And there was the best moment for you hear your name called tonight or hit that game winning shot against Colorado State. Uh, I said this earlier, probably get this, get my name called because I’m probably gonna hit another game when, but I’m never gonna get my name called again. How much have you been able to get to know Jeremiah over the past couple of months? Uh, so me and have been talking briefly. Like every time we see each other, we chop it up on social media, we, we chop it up like every time, um, we see, we see each other, we always talk, always love, um, and then, um, I feel like we, we, we definitely gonna go through *** lot with rookie duties and, and trying to figure out New Orleans. And just what do you think about Plan next Design, huh? Oh, great, great player, great, really great plan and hopefully I can learn *** lot from him. He, he teach me the game and, and stuff, but I’m, I’m super excited to get, get ready to work with Za. couple more questions for you. Do you know much about the fans in New Orleans so much about the city? Uh, yeah, I’m kind of familiar. Uh, so my friend, he went to LSU and I visited *** few times, but I knew New Orleans had really good food. Um, I, I feel like it’s similar to, uh, Baltimore cause they got their own accent just like us in Baltimore. Uh, so, and Baltimore have really good food and, um. I, I, I don’t know too much about it, but it kinda, it kinda assimilate to Baltimore. Which friend went to LSU? Uh, he, he transferred his name, Mike Williams. Thanks, Derek, for your time. Look forward to getting you down to New Orleans soon. Appreciate it. Yeah we, thank you.
FULL INTERVIEW: Meet Pelicans rookie, 13th overall pick Derik Queen
Updated: 1:18 AM CDT Jun 26, 2025
The Pelicans traded up to select Maryland Center Derik Queen at 13th overall.New Orleans acquired the draft rights to Derik Queen (13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Asa Newell (23rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) and a future first round pick.Queen, 6-9, 248, spent one season at the University of Maryland where he was named the 2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist after finishing tied for first in the Big Ten and ranking 14th nationally with 15 double-doubles (most among freshmen). Queen played in 36 games for the Terrapins and averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game.NBA.com OverviewAfter an incredible season at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, which included a 56-point game, Queen was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year and transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida. It took some time for Queen to earn playing time at the high school powerhouse, but he emerged as a star by his senior season and earned MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. Queen started all 36 of his appearances during his lone season at Maryland, averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 30.4 minutes. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound big man was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors.Career Highlights2024-25 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection.2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist.2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first top league freshman at Maryland since Joe Smith in 1993-94 (ACC).2024-25 All-Big Ten First Team choice by coaches and Second Team by media.Co-MVP of the 2024 McDonald’s High School All-American Game.Personal InfoMaryland teammates called him “Baby Jokić.”If he could have dinner with three people, he’d choose LeBron James, Denzel Washington and Nicki Minaj.Played high school basketball at Montverde Academy with fellow 2025 NBA Draft prospects Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Asa Newell.
NEW ORLEANS —
The Pelicans traded up to select Maryland Center Derik Queen at 13th overall.
New Orleans acquired the draft rights to Derik Queen (13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Asa Newell (23rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) and a future first round pick.
Queen, 6-9, 248, spent one season at the University of Maryland where he was named the 2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist after finishing tied for first in the Big Ten and ranking 14th nationally with 15 double-doubles (most among freshmen). Queen played in 36 games for the Terrapins and averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game.
NBA.com Overview
After an incredible season at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, which included a 56-point game, Queen was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year and transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida. It took some time for Queen to earn playing time at the high school powerhouse, but he emerged as a star by his senior season and earned MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. Queen started all 36 of his appearances during his lone season at Maryland, averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 30.4 minutes. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound big man was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Career Highlights
2024-25 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection.2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist.2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first top league freshman at Maryland since Joe Smith in 1993-94 (ACC).2024-25 All-Big Ten First Team choice by coaches and Second Team by media.Co-MVP of the 2024 McDonald’s High School All-American Game.
Personal Info
Maryland teammates called him “Baby Jokić.”If he could have dinner with three people, he’d choose LeBron James, Denzel Washington and Nicki Minaj.Played high school basketball at Montverde Academy with fellow 2025 NBA Draft prospects Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Asa Newell.