Maryland
Deadspin | Derik Queen guides Maryland against St. Francis (Pa.)
One of the most positive signs this season for Maryland has been the play of Derik Queen, especially against the toughest teams on the Terrapins’ schedule.
While Tuesday’s matchup against Saint Francis (Pa.) of the Northeast Conference doesn’t figure to be one of Maryland’s most challenging tests, it does find Queen in peak form.
The 6-foot-10 freshman will be a lot for the Red Flash (4-7) to handle when they travel to College Park, Md. to face the Terrapins (8-2).
In his last outing on Dec. 8, Queen delivered 26 points and 12 rebounds in Maryland’s 83-78 loss at then-No. 8 Purdue.
Last month, Queen scored 24 points in a 78-74 loss to then-No. 15 Marquette and collected 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a 76-75 win over Villanova.
With Queen leading the team in scoring (17.5 points) and rebounds (8.7) per game, the Terrapins are vastly improved offensively.
But coach Kevin Willard wants to see better work at the defensive end. Maryland surrendered 52 points in the second half against Purdue.
“Our half-court defense in the first half was really good,” Willard said. “Our transition defense in the second half was, you know, the crowd got into it. We got a little bit rattled.” Another Maryland player that has risen against elite competition has been Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
His three highest-scoring games have come against Marquette, Purdue and Ohio State, which Maryland hammered at home 83-59 early this month. In those games, Gillespie hit a combined 12 of 24 shots (50 percent) from 3-point range, scoring 65 points.
St. Francis, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2019-20, has struggled against strong competition, losing by at least 26 points to Dayton, Clemson and Penn State.
Bobby Rosenberger is St. Francis’ top scorer (13.5 points) and rebounder (5.1). Junior college transfer Riley Parker adds 10.3 points and a team-high 4.4 assists per game.
“Riley’s growth in the last month is a product of his hard work,” coach Rob Krimmel said. “He cares. His voice is starting to emerge more and that’s part of a team’s journey.”
–Field Level Media
Calling all outdoorsmen and women — Maryland’s Lower Shore is home to some of the best hiking, walking and running trails on the East Coast.
Here’s a closer look at four picturesque parks and preserves with nature trails in the Berlin, Salisbury and Ocean City area.
Assateague Island
Assateague Island offers a wide variety of paved and unpaved trails open for hiking and 37 miles of flat beach terrain for wandering and beachcombing. Assateague Island’s Maryland District features a Life of the Dunes trail, Life of the Forest trail, Life of the Marsh trail.
Furnace Town
Furnace Town is nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve. The popular historical site offers three Nature Conservancy Trails, three Maryland Forest service Trails, and a 26-acre outdoor museum and recreation area.
Pemberton Historical Park
Pemberton Historical Park, a 262-acre area featuring a trail system, outdoor amphitheater and more, was created in the 1980s. The park offers 4.5 miles of nature trails for walking and hiking only, allowing visitors to explore wetlands, forests and more of the natural world.
Nassawango Creek Preserve
Nassawango Creek Preserve’s primeval forest has an abundance of bald cypress and black gum trees. Visitors are invited to indulge in its four trails, the Nassawango Joe, Prothonotary Warbler, Ron Wilson Memorial Trail and Leifer Trail, as well as self-guided audio tours.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region.
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals’ first-round draft pick Chris Hacopian inked his first professional contract Wednesday, a moment made sweeter by the fact it was just a 30-minute drive from home to get to Nationals Park and put pen to paper.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region. He’s from Potomac, Maryland, and played his high school ball at Winston Churchill, where he was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Washington Post All-Met selection.
According to MLB.com, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan, admiring the likes of Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and others. He also played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Maryland, where his father Derek played before him, before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season.
With the Aggies, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI across 42 games en route to being named First-Team All-Southeastern Conference and a Third-Team All-American by Baseball America, the Nationals said in a news release.
After inking his contract Wednesday, Hacopian donned his new jersey and ball cap and stepped onto D.C.’s beloved diamond as a part of the Nationals organization for the first time.
“That was so cool, oh my gosh. I’ve been in the stands like, 100 times, but being on the field is so different,” he said.
Hacopian was ranked 14th among MLB Draft prospects by MLB.com. The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound second baseman boasted one of the best bats in college baseball, according to MLB.com, with excellent control over the strike zone and feel for the barrel, along with solid pop.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
-
Rhode Island2 minutes ago19-Year-Old Charged With Deadly Providence Pedestrian Bridge Stabbing
-
South-Carolina8 minutes agoWhen Lindsey Graham’s funeral will be in South Carolina
-
South Dakota14 minutes agoMeet Mayor Christine Erickson
-
Tennessee20 minutes agoL.L.Bean opens first Tennessee store in Franklin. See inside
-
Texas26 minutes agoTexas Rangers Homestand Information for July 20-27, 2026
-
Utah32 minutes agoHere’s who will lead Utah Valley University as its next president
-
Vermont38 minutes agoCommunity Profile by Gordon Hayward: NYC bargeman drawn to rural life in Vermont
-
Virginia44 minutes agoEvents canceled due to unhealthy air quality in central Virginia
