St. Frances well represented in NBA

Derick Queen's, a first round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is not the only NBA newcomer with St. Frances ties

Derick Queen had a sensational freshman year at St. Frances Academy in 2021, before playing three years and winning a national championship at Florida power Montverde Academy. After one brilliant season at the University of Maryland, Queen was selected with the 13th pick in the first round of last week's NBA Draft.
Derick Queen had a sensational freshman year at St. Frances Academy in 2021, before playing three years and winning a national championship at Florida power Montverde Academy. After one brilliant season at the University of Maryland, Queen was selected with the 13th pick in the first round of last week's NBA Draft.
July 1, 2025

St. Frances is an undisputed basketball power in the MIAA A Conference. The Panthers have won six league titles since 2009 and have reached the league finals and semifinals numerous other times.

That type of success is always fueled by great players and the Panthers have produced more than their share, as scores of former SFA stars have starred at the highest levels of college basketball. This week the Panthers enjoyed a new level of pride with several players earning NBA opportunities.

The headliner, of course, is Derick Queen, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Although Queen played just one season at St. Frances, his freshman campaign in 2021, he made huge mark, leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record and the Baltimore Catholic League championship. He transferred to Florida power Montverde Academy for the next three years, playing alongside another high school legend, Cooper Flagg, and won the 2023 national championship.

Last season, Queen returned to his home state and helped lead the University of Maryland to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Shortly after the season, he declared for the NBA Draft and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans with whom he is poised to begin his NBA career.

When the NBA Summer League tips-off this week Queen will not be the only player with St. Francis roots looking to make his mark.

Queen's Maryland teammate Julian Reese has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after wrapping up a strong four-year career with the Terps. Reese just missed a double-double average as a senior at Maryland, netting 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game. Reese scored 1,488 career points at Maryland and collected 1,015 rebounds, allowing him to join Terps' legend Len Elmore as the only two players in program history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Yet another Panther will be making his NBA debut this summer, as Ace Baldwin Jr. has signed a free agent deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Baldwin had three brilliant seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, earning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. He finished his college career last year at Penn State.

Of course, this trio of Panthers follows the 2024 first round selection of former Panther star Carlton "Bub" Carrington III, the No. 14 overall selection of the Portland Trailblazers who was traded to the Washington Wizards.