2024 5-star center and key Indiana basketball target Derik Queen enters decision-making mode

The Indiana basketball program has entered the stage of the 2024 recruiting cycle where it has just one prospect remaining on its hot board. That is five-star center Derik Queen.

Queen, ranked No. 17 overall in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, has wrapped up his visits and is in decision-making mode. He had his final planned visit this past weekend to Maryland.

The Montverde Academy (Fla.) center is considering Indiana, Maryland, Houston, Kansas and LSU, having taken visits to all five. But, Indiana, Maryland and Houston are the three teams heavily in the mix. A choice will come from one of those three.

With visits completed, a decision was likely to be made in the next week or two. He wanted to have a decision made and his recruitment wrapped up by the early signing period, which begins Nov. 8.

With an impending decision, this week has been a busy one for him with coaches visiting. On Tuesday, Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson and assistant coach Kenya Hunter went to Montverde to see Queen.

It is expected that Maryland and Houston will be in to see Queen as well on Wednesday, according to 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Travis Branham.

Maryland and Houston will both be in today to see 2024 five star big man Derik Queen, a source tells @247Sports.

Finished his final official visit to Maryland over the weekend.

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) October 25, 2023

On Wednesday, however, national college basketball writer Adam Zagoria reported that Queen will make a decision on Friday — set between Indiana basketball and Maryland. No mention of Houston.

“Five-star center Derik Queen is expected to announce Friday between Indiana and Maryland, Boyle said. Indiana was on campus for him on Tuesday, and Maryland is there Wednesday,” per Zagoria’s article.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, Queen came out and addressed that report by saying he would not be committing anywhere on Friday.

Sources continue to point to Maryland being the team to beat, but the water started to get a bit murky over the past few days following his official visit.

There have been conflicting reports from sources about how much the Maryland visit this past weekend moved the needle — in either direction. With Zagoria’s story as well, there seem to be conflicting reports regarding Houston’s involvement as well.

“Queen just took his official to Maryland and will decide probably next week,” a source told HoosierIllustrated on Tuesday. “Continue to think Maryland is the leader but I think (someone in his circle) is pushing Houston. Someone told me Maryland didn’t show him a path to being a one and done and that’s why the push for Houston.”

Queen played for Team Thrill on the UAA Circuit where former Houston forward Jarace Walker played. Walker played one season at Houston when he averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, resulting in being drafted No. 8 overall in this summer’s NBA Draft.

The connection for Queen to Maryland is his hometown. Queen grew up in the Baltimore area before heading to Florida for his last few years of high school.

The clear connection for the Indiana basketball program is his high school teammate Liam McNeeley. McNeeley committed to Indiana earlier this month and is best friends with Queen.

“We have a great relationship,” McNeeley told HoosierIllustrated of his relationship with Queen. “We’re brothers.”

(Story updated @ 3:05 pm ET Wednesday afternoon)

SEE ALSO: How much will landing Liam McNeeley help Indiana basketball in final pursuit of 5-star Derik Queen?

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