Syracuse basketball interest in 2024 F Derik Queen, game likened to Melo

Syracuse basketball is taking a look at 2024 forward Derik Queen, who could end up one of the top players nationally in his class.

Syracuse basketball is displaying interest in 2024 forward Derik Queen out of Baltimore, whose “skill and size at this stage of his development is reminiscent” of Orange legend Carmelo Anthony, according to a report.

Queen, a 6-foot-8 power forward entering his freshman campaign at the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, already has high-major offers from former Big East Conference rival Georgetown, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Virginia Tech, Maryland, LSU and Arizona State, according to his bios on the primary recruiting services’ Web sites.

Additionally, Queen is garnering interest from three other ACC schools in Syracuse basketball, Pittsburgh and Florida State, which won the league’s regular-stanza crown during the 2019-20 term.

Dushawn London, a national analyst for 247Sports, wrote in an article that while this recruiting service hasn’t come out with rankings for the 2024 class yet, 247Sports has watched Queen on several occasions of late.

"London says of Queen that he “has a developed post game while still showing off his ball skills in the open court. He has great size and poses matchup issues with how versatile he can be. Queen has unlimited potential and if he continues to work on his guard skills he can be one of top players in the class.”"

Syracuse basketball is showing interest in 2024 forward Derik Queen, who plays high-school ball in Maryland.

In London’s piece, he spoke with Donnell Dobbins, program director of the Baltimore-based Team Thrill, where Queen suits up on the AAU circuit.

"Here’s what Dobbins had to say about Queen’s game at this juncture. “His skill and size at this stage of his development is reminiscent of Melo. He is very dominant in the mid-post area, and in the trail positions. He has the ability to play on or off the ball. … As he continues to develop physically I expect him to be seen as the Top 2-3 players in the class. He will have the ability to live out his dream to play in the NBA if he continues to focus his energy on improving daily and remaining humble.”"

Hopefully, the Orange will continue to pursue Queen. Syracuse basketball has also taken a recent interest in Caleb Middleton, a power forward in the 2024 recruiting cycle who attends the New Hampton School in New Hampton, N.H.