Overview

• The Pelicans acquired the No. 13 pick from the Hawks by trading their No. 23 selection and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder.
• Queen averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds while leading all NCAA freshmen with 15 double-doubles, breaking Maryland’s freshman scoring mark and earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honors.
• Though his NBA combine marks—12.45 seconds in the lane agility drill and a 28-inch vertical—ranked among the lowest, analysts praise his footwork, court vision and 3-point potential.
• He is the first Maryland player taken in the first round since Jalen Smith in 2020 and the program’s first NBA draftee overall since Aaron Wiggins in 2021.
• At a watch party in Parkville’s Urban Crab Shack, family and friends celebrated before Queen pledged to bring a winning mindset to a team coming off a 21-61 season.