‘Baby Jokic,’ hits winner, takes Maryland to Sweet 16
SEATTLE—Derik Queen’s teammates at Maryland call him “Baby Jokic.”
But while Queen is an obviously gifted big man, he’s still something of a big kid, quick to joke with a broad smile that reveals his braces.
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year got Maryland to the Sweet 16 with an off-balance, last-second fadeaway jumper against Colorado State that gave the Terrapins a 72-71 win.
Next up for the fourth-seeded Terps at the NCAA Tournament is a trip to San Francisco to play No. 1 Florida.
“I feel like everybody calls him Baby Jokic because he definitely plays the low post, gets everybody involved,” said teammate DeShawn Harris-Smith. “He’s my roommate, he’s probably my closest friend on the team, so I love playing with him, being part of his journey.”
Queen, who is 6-foot-10 and a solid 250 pounds, is the anchor of Maryland’s starting group, nicknamed the “Crab Five,” a play on the old Michigan Fab Five of the early 1990s and a nod to Maryland’s famous food.
There are many reasons to compare the 20-year-old Queen to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, with his adept passing, ball control, defense and ability to make shots from all over the floor.
So the nickname wasn’t that much of a stretch, but it was solidified when WNBA star Angel Reese, sister of Maryland’s Julian Reese, said on social media: “Derik is literally baby Jokic omg.”
And, as it turned out, Queen can also make game-winners.
“When he said that he wanted the ball and the way he said it, I knew something good was going to happen because good things happen to great people,” Willard said, “and he is a great, great person.”
The Crab Five have started every game for the Terps since Nov. 19, and all of them averaged in double figures heading into the tournament.
His teammates all talk about Queen’s joy for the game and life in general.
“He just has such a great energy about him,” Terps coach Kevin Willard said. “When you’re around him you’re going to smile, you’re going to laugh, you’re going to hug him.”
In the victory over the Rams, Queen finished with 17 points, Rodney Rice scored 16 and Julian Reese had 15 points and 11 rebounds as each of Maryland’s starters scored in double figures.
Queen proudly proclaimed that the highlight-reel buzzer-beater against the Rams was his first game-winner. Willard said he went to a timeout and asked who wanted the ball for the final play, and of course, it was Queen.
