![Baltimore star power shines bright as Maryland basketball takes center stage Baltimore star power shines bright as Maryland basketball takes center stage](https://i1.wp.com/s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/910/256/12256910.jpg?width=1200&height=628&crop=1.91:1&fit=cover&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
There’s a distinct new Baltimore flavor to the Maryland basketball program. The Terps’ star player (Julian Reese), their prized recruit (Derik Queen) and their new assistant coach (Kevin Norris) are all from there, injecting more of a presence into Charm City than Maryland has had in recent years. The staff also includes another Baltimore native, Ricky Harris, who played a major role in Queen’s recruiting.
And they’re proudly showing it off with a new billboard in Baltimore promoting $199 season tickets and featuring Queen and Reese, labeled with a headline that appeals to local pride: “Charming City to College Park.”
Via Maryland Basketball on Twitter:
(Photo: Maryland Athletics)
Queen, a 6-10 incoming freshman, is the No. 3 center and No. 13 player in 247Sports’ Class of 2024 rankings. Reese, a 6-foot-9 senior, is one of the top returning centers in the Big Ten. Not only are the two both from Baltimore, where Maryland struggled to recruit top talent for years, but they were also high school teammates there at powerhouse St. Frances Academy. So while many teams play little these days, they will look to recreate the chemistry of the St. Frances twin towers.
“I mean, we did it my first year, so I think we can do it at a higher level this year… I think it’s really good because we can both help each other,” Queen said in a radio interview in March.
Maryland is not done trying to add talent from Baltimore. The Terps are well positioned with top-35 guard Tyler Jackson, a local native who now plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta. He also offered Loyola Blakefield guard Mason Ellison.
“For (Willard) to attack that and be aggressive recruiting around here is a big thing,” Reese said last November, via The Diamondback. “It will influence the younger kids here, more talent here to not be shy and be open to coming to Maryland like Derik, guys like DeShawn (Harris-Smith).”
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Queen might have played his final years of high school baseball at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, but he left no doubt about where his loyalties lie in that radio interview.
“I’m a huge Ravens fan and I love the Orioles,” he said. “The Ravens still could have won this year, but, you know, the refs.”
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