Rumors

In the No. 10 range, it remains to be seen which players will be available after Toronto selects at No. 9 ... or the Raptors trade that selection elsewhere. Two names I've been told to monitor for the Suns on NBA Draft Eve at No. 10: Maryland's Derik Queen and Michigan's Danny Wolf.

marcstein.substack.com

Ott already holds one distinction. Having grown up in McConnellsburg, Penn., which sits a short drive from the Maryland border, no current NBA coach has come from a place so small. According to the 2020 census, McConnellsburg has a population of 1,150. The town features two stoplights and a McDonald’s. Visitors have to stay out of town because there’s no hotel. The nearest Walmart is 26 miles away. Kenny Welsh, the athletic director at McConnellsburg High School, has lived in the small town his whole life. He knows Ott’s parents — John, who once ran a store that sold tractor equipment, furniture and appliances; and Pam, a school librarian. On Wednesday, Welsh said the faculty was preparing for graduation, 75 seniors, one of the school’s bigger classes. The Ott news provided a jolt of excitement.

New York Times

So where does that leave the Bulls? According to a source, Maryland big man Derik Queen is sliding but still isn’t on the Bulls’ radar because of growing concerns about his athletic ability and how that fits with Billy Donovan’s up-tempo pace. He’ll need a private workout with the Bulls to change minds. The Bulls are zoning in on BYU’s Egor Demin, but they’re not alone. Demin — a suddenly hot name — could climb into the top 10.

Chicago Sun-Times

According to a source, Maryland big man Derik Queen is sliding but still isn’t on the Bulls’ radar because of growing concerns about his athletic ability and how that fits with Billy Donovan’s up-tempo pace. He’ll need a private workout with the Bulls to change minds.

Chicago Sun-Times

Most draft prospects aren’t too picky about their potential destination. But for Maryland senior Shyanne Sellers, it’s a slightly different story. Chicago means something different to the Sellers family. And Shyanne’s father, Brad, can’t lie — it’s hard not to dream about the prospect of hearing his daughter’s name called to the city almost four decades after the Bulls selected him. “Look, the trip back to Chicago hasn’t gotten past us,” Sellers told the Tribune with a grin. “It’s exciting to even think about.”

Chicago Tribune

In an appearance with fellow Terp Scott Van Pelt on ESPN's SportsCenter, Maryland's Derik Queen announced on Friday night that he will declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. Queen led Maryland this season to its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in nearly a decade and was one of the top freshmen nationally.

UMTerps.com

Days after leading Maryland to the Sweet 16, Derik Queen decided to take his talents to the NBA. "I'm proud to say I'm entering the 2025 NBA draft," he said on "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" on Friday. Queen, a 6-foot-10 center who is projected as the No. 10 pick in ESPN's latest mock draft, earned Associated Press All-America honors and first-team all-Big Ten honors this season. He also averaged 18.6 points in three NCAA tournament games.

ESPN

NBA star Immanuel Quickley returned home to his roots in Bel Air, Maryland at The John Carroll School to launch his foundation. Quickley stared the Quickley Family Foundation, a charitable initiative dedicated to celebrating family, faith and giving back to the local community.

foxbaltimore.com

NBA sources and sources close to Queen have told The Athletic that Queen has taken his nutrition extremely seriously at Maryland this year and has done a fantastic job of keeping his weight down. Entering Maryland, he was over 260 pounds. Now, he’s in the 240-pound range and continues to make good decisions regarding his food.

New York Times

NBA player Bradley Beal’s former home in Bethesda, Maryland, has hit the market for $11 million. Beal, now with the Phoenix Suns, lived in the Washington, D.C.-area home during the latter part of his time with the Washington Wizards. He bought the house in 2019 for $7.8 million and sold it in 2023, after being traded to the Suns, for $9.185 million, records show.

Mansion Global

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame nominee Carmelo Anthony and his high school coach, Steve Smith will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from Oak Hill Academy on Sunday February 2, 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The event will acknowledge both Anthony and Smith’s impact on the world of basketball, while also highlighting their influence as role models, philanthropists and leaders.

ScoopB.com

Ex Suns and Knicks Player Jerrod Mustaf Passed Away at the Age of 55 The 55-year-old center Jerrod Mustaf, who played in the ACB League for FC Barcelona and Festina Andorra, passed away. After a stellar collegiate career at Maryland, the Whiteville, North Carolina native was taken 17th overall in the 1990 Draft, but despite his immense potential, he only played four seasons in the NBA.

BlackSportsOnline

Langston Wertz: Sad news to report. Former NBA basketball player Jerrod Mustaf died Monday morning. He was 55. Mustaf's son, Jaeden, was an All-Observer and all-state star at national power Carmel Christian two years ago. Jaeden, who played at the Atlanta-based Overtime Elite as a high school senior, is now a freshman at Georgia Tech. Jerrod Mustaf played in high school at DeMatha Catholic in Maryland and played in college at Maryland, where he became an All-ACC player in 1990. In high school, Mustaf, who was 6-foot-10, was a three-time Parade All-American. After college, Jerrod Mustaf became a first round draft pick by the New York Knicks and played professional for 11 years with the Knicks, Suns and several European professional teams.

x.com

“I can see somebody beating that number,” Durant, who is from Seat Pleasant, Maryland, said. “Records are made to be broken, like I said. My goal every time is to represent my country, my state, my street, my family. And to help push the game forward. Since I’ve been here, we’ve done that. “We have built on what the Dream Team did in 1992. We carried that torch. That was the main goal.”

Andscape