Maryland center Derik Queen has signed a notable NIL deal with Dairy Queen, marking a significant milestone in his career as of March 27, 2025.

As he prepares for a potential NBA career, Queen is projected to be a top draft pick, with estimates suggesting he could be selected fifth overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

His impressive performance in the NCAA tournament has been pivotal, including a double-double in the first round against Grand Canyon and a buzzer-beater against Colorado State, which helped Maryland advance to the Sweet 16.

Throughout the tournament, Queen has averaged 16.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, significantly boosting his visibility on the national stage.

Queen's success on the court, combined with his NIL deal, is contributing to his financial growth as he looks toward his future in professional basketball.

Maryland's NIL store is taking advantage of Queen's rising popularity by selling apparel that features his memorable quote from a recent interview.

Sean Ellenby from Campus Ink's NIL arm highlighted the importance of Queen's quote in creating merchandise that resonates with fans.

In a postgame interview, Queen expressed his confidence in taking crucial shots, attributing it to his Baltimore roots, saying, "I'm from Baltimore. That's why."