Derik Queen is heading back to St. Frances Academy, but this time he’ll be on the sideline.
The Baltimore native and New Orleans Pelicans center will coach in the inaugural Under Armour Next City Classic on Saturday at St. Frances’ John & Joanne Phelps Gymnasium, returning to the place where his high school career started. The event will bring together 41 of the nation’s top boys and girls high school basketball players, with the girls game set for noon and the boys game following at 2 p.m.
Queen will lead one of the two teams alongside San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox, who will also serve as a head coach for the showcase. Under Armour’s Eric Ogbogu said the company sees the event as a homecoming of sorts.
"Bringing the UA Next City Classic to Baltimore is about returning to our roots and investing in the next generation of athletes where our story began," said Eric Ogbogu, Director of Grassroots Marketing at Under Armour. "This event reflects Under Armour's commitment to elevating grassroots basketball, creating meaningful opportunities for young talent, and celebrating the passion, culture, and community that make Baltimore one of the country's great basketball cities."
The girls side includes Bullis School standout Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, a 6-foot-1 forward and five-star recruit who ranks among the top players in the Class of 2027. Queen’s roster also features Sabrina Anderson, Marlee-Michelle Coleman, Brookeslee Colvin, Lillie Graves, Syniyah Grigsby, Janiyah Hargrave, Amisha Ramlall, Addie Seal and Quinn Sowder. Assisting Queen will be Frank Oliver and Angela Santa Fe.
Fox’s girls team includes Strawberry Blankumsee, Avery Bollin, Payton Caudle, Jordyn Ellis, Ella Peper, Nyajuacni Riak, Mackenzie Smith, Amelia Sow, Ashlee Wilson and Mya Wilson. April Sykes and Capri Tucker will serve as assistant coaches.
On the boys side, Queen’s team will feature Darrell Davis, Bronx Ganaway, Declan Griffiths, Isaiah Hamilton, Myles Hayes, Payton Jones, Mancho Junior, Jace Opoku, Joshua Sanders Jr. and Quinton Wilson, with Nick Myles and Patrick O'Conner on the bench as assistants.
Fox’s boys roster is Kaleb Allen, Chase Branham, Jordan Costley, Korey Francis, Jarvis Hayes Jr., Terence Jones III, Draydne McDaniel, Quentin Mosby, Kiir Nang, LJ Williams and Xavier Young. Mookie Dobbins and Terrell Myers are the assistant coaches.
One of the more notable names in the boys event is Terence Jones III, a four-star point guard who plays for Nick Myles at St. Frances Academy but will suit up for Team Fox.
Queen’s ties to St. Frances run back to 2021, when he spent his freshman season there under Myles. The school’s athletic director and boys head basketball coach called that stretch a "great experience" and remembered Queen as a big-time scorer who helped the Panthers go 15-1 in the COVID shortened season.
"He's always been a great kid," said Myles, who also pointed to Queen’s 56-point outburst in a 99-55 win over Annapolis Area Christian School. As a freshman, Queen averaged 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game and was named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.
Myles said the event was Under Armour’s idea, but added that St. Frances Academy is fully behind it.
"To bring big-time basketball to Baltimore is always great," said Myles.
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