Maryland center Derik Queen is officially entering the NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season, he announced on Friday night. The 6-foot-10 center is a likely lottery pick this summer after having earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors for the Terrapins.

Queen is the most recent player associated with Maryland’s ‘Crab Five’ to leave the program following Kevin Willard’s departure to Villanova. Alongside Queen, Terrapins guards Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice have entered the transfer portal.

He played a crucial role in Maryland’s success, helping the team reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in nearly ten years. Queen scored a game-winning jumper against Colorado State in the second round, pushing the Terrapins into the next stage of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016.

Queen’s season statistics included an average of 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, with 15 double-doubles, ranking him among the best in the Big Ten.

CBS Sports draft analyst Adam Finkelstein remarked that Queen would pair well with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, highlighting his potential in a frontcourt role.

The loss of Queen, alongside other departures, poses a challenge for the next coach at Maryland as they navigate the transfer portal in preparation for the upcoming season.