Inside Climate Pledge Arena ahead of NCAA Tournament games
A look inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle where the Colorado State and Memphis basketball teams will play in the first round of NCAA Tournament.
- Maryland’s Derik Queen and Colorado State’s Nique Clifford are projected to be top picks in the 2025 NBA draft.
- Queen is projected to be drafted as high as No. 5 overall by some analysts.
- The first round of the NBA draft will be held on June 25.
SEATTLE — Two first-round picks in the 2025 NBA draft may be on the floor Sunday.
The No. 4 seed Maryland basketball team faces Cinderella hopeful in No. 12 Colorado State in the second round of the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament. The game is at 4:10 p.m. Pacific/5:10 p.m. Mountain (on TBS).
Maryland star Derik Queen and Colorado State star Nique Clifford are both the subject of big attention from NBA scouts and could be first-round picks.
Here is a look at some of the latest NBA draft projections for Derik Queen.
ESPN
ESPN listed the top 50 NBA draft prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament.
Queen was listed No. 8 with Jeremy Woo writing, “He is the most offensively gifted big in this draft class, presenting matchup problems with his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack out of different spots on the interior.”
ESPN’s pre-NCAA Tournament mock draft has Queen being selected with the No. 10 overall pick.
Bleacher Report
Jonathan Wasserman, the NBA draft insider for Bleacher Report and NBA TV/Turner, has Queen going No. 5 in the draft in his pre-NCAA Tournament mock draft.
“Queen may need some specific pieces around him to mask some of his limitations, but lottery teams could simply see too polished of an offensive player to worry about fit for a rebuilding roster,” Wasserman writes.
The Athletic
Sam Vecenie wrote a pre-NCAA Tournament mock draft and had Queen as the No. 9 overall pick.
“Queen is an outstanding player, a playmaking big man who steps up in the biggest moments and continues to just produce whenever necessary … Queen is the exact kind of offensive playmaking center whom teams would love to have, especially if you believe he has potential to shoot from distance,” Vecenie said.
When is the 2025 NBA draft?
Here are the key dates around the NBA draft.
- May 11-18:Â NBA draft combine
- May 12:Â NBA draft lottery
- June 25:Â First round of NBA draft (6 p.m. Mountain on ABC and ESPN)
- June 26:Â Second round of NBA draft (6 p.m. Mountain on ESPN)
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.