Key 2024 Indiana basketball target named ‘most entertaining’ player in class

As the recruiting calendar changes to the fall, key players around the country are getting ready to make their college choices. For one Indiana basketball target, he’s still a bit away from a decision, mainly due to numerous other programs stepping in after a terrific summer.

6-foot-10 center Derik Queen has been heavily recruited by the Indiana basketball program for nearly as long has his recruitment has been going on. Currently, the Hoosiers are one of the key teams to focus on in his recruitment. Maryland, Houston, LSU and Kansas are the others. Still, as things stand at the beginning of August, Indiana and Maryland are the two to focus on most.

Sources confirmed to HoosierIllustrated.com last week that Queen will be taking a senior year official visit to Indiana from Sept. 8-10. That coincides with Montverde (Fla.) Academy teammate Liam McNeeley and his senior year official visit to Indiana.

Queen has made significant strides over the last year in his game. He has nearly been one of the most dominant big men across all of high school hoops. As a junior at Montverde, Queen averaged 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Read: Indiana basketball labeled ‘team to beat’ for 2024 top-10 prospect

His play has given him the name as ‘most entertaining’ player in the 2024 class.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham polled anonymous college coaches following the live periods this summer on a variety of topics. For ‘most entertaining’ player in 2024, it was a two-way tie between Queen and Flory Bidunga.

“Queen is an elite post-scorer who lacks athleticism but can pour in bucket after bucket at a very efficient rate with his beautiful footwork and gifted hands,” Branham wrote. “He is one of the best low-post scorers we have seen in some time. When he’s not putting guys in a blender in the low-post, he can step out and score from the mid-range while also being a very talented passer.”

Playing for Team Thrill on the Under Armor AAU circuit, Queen averaged 19.7 points per game and was one of the most efficient players in the league. He also added 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

He was also a standout performer at the NBA Top 100 camp this summer. He averaged 18.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across five games. He ranked second in the camp in rebounds per game and eight in points per game. He also ranked fifth with a 65.5 shooting percentage.

One of the the biggest reasons for Queen’s breakout summer was his all-around offensive game and motor. At times previously, Queen would show flashes but not be consistent in his production. That wasn’t the case over the last few months. Queen showed tremendous ability to make play after play. Whether it was a post move, offensive rebound putback, transition opportunity or even his tremendous touch as a passer, his ability to make impact plays continues to shine.

Derik Queen is ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the 2024 247Sports Composite Rankings and the No. 3 center.

Not many players have had a better last eight months than Queen.

SEE ALSO: ‘Derik Queen certainly looked like the best player in the gym’: Key Indiana basketball 2024 target named a standout at UA Next Finals

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