Social media roars after New Orleans Pelicans land Maryland star Derik Queen

Maryland center Derik Queen was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but will play for the New Orleans Pelicans after trading up to grab him. The Pelicans traded with the Hawks to land the Maryland big man. He is the first Maryland player selected since 2021.

Queen came to Maryland as a five-star prospect and he didn't disappoint. The Baltimore product helped lead the Terrapins to the Sweet 16. Queen averaged 16.5 points and nine rebounds per game for Maryland this past season. He hit a buzzer-beater in the Round of 32 against Colorado State -- a moment Maryland fans will never forget.

The Pelicans were one team that was connected to Queen during the NBA process. He will now play beside former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson. It's an intriguing pairing since neither Queen or Williamson has much of an outside. Could the Pelicans go old school and have two post players?

Following New Orleans selecting Queen, social media roared. Here are some of the top reactions to Queen's selection.

DQ goes at No. 13 to Atlanta, but the pick is traded to New Orleans!👑 pic.twitter.com/uouULmDrrq
— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) June 26, 2025

Derik Queen is a Pelican 😤

Maryland's dominant big man is New Orleans bound 🐢 pic.twitter.com/GErwtxzYcJ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) June 26, 2025

Maryland star Derik Queen is heading to Pelicans with the No. 13 pick 🔥

The Big Ten Freshman of the Year led the Terps to the Sweet 16 🙌 pic.twitter.com/89iRqxigQW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2025

High boom-or-bust potential for the Pelicans at No. 13...@Sean_Barnard1 is iffy on Derik Queen landing in New Orleans 👀 pic.twitter.com/FznWnKwtFF
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) June 26, 2025

Pelicans draft Derik Queen with the 13th pick

Might be the steal of the draft 👀

pic.twitter.com/ITkY0kzHbP
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 26, 2025

Pelicans having themselves a NIGHT.

Jeremiah Fears at #7.
Derik Queen at #13 (who they liked at #7 too).

2 great young players + max aura between them. Great work by New Orleans pic.twitter.com/oyn0U6AxBI
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) June 26, 2025

LETS GOOOOOOOOOO
— elvis (@__elvis3) June 26, 2025

With the 13th pick of the NBA Draft the @ATLHawks select Derik Queen (@derikqueen1)!

2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm LIVE on ABC & ESPN! pic.twitter.com/jcxHwvn6C5
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

Somebody is going to get a really good player in Derik Queen.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 26, 2025

"I might hit another game winner. You never know."

- Derik Queen 👀pic.twitter.com/MoewVnDW7U
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 26, 2025

If you bet on Derik Queen going 7th overall to the Pelicans, you weren’t wrong—you just got burned by Jeremiah Fears not going to Utah. https://t.co/4PzcrKGxoR
— Jon Metler (@JonMetler) June 26, 2025

Derik Queen slipping all the way to 13 is complete and utter lunacy. The B2A tour will commence soon 🐢📈 pic.twitter.com/HtZjAF4XOp
— Terps Recruiting (@TerpRecruiting) June 26, 2025

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