Only one game into the season, and Egor Demin already has the college basketball world buzzing. In his season opener against Central Arkansas, he led the BYU Cougars to a blowout victory while stiffing the stat sheet at every opportunity.
6'8 PG Egor Demin in his NCAA debut:
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) November 6, 2024
18 points
11 assists
4 steals
7-13 FG
4-7 3P pic.twitter.com/Cf1FcLTAxx
It's not only that he makes plays that finish with an extra tally on his box score, but it's that he makes winning plays with his elite game feel and passing ability so smooth, you'd think that Egor is employing angels to gingerly deliver each of his passes in the perfect spot every time.
The Kevin Young experiment is going extremely well, I'd say.
But BYU fans aren't the only ones getting hyped about their Russian superstar. Experts from across the basketball world are loving what they see from the projected lottery pick, and it's not hyperbole to say that Demin is suddenly shooting up draft boards, even from his late lottery position.
Though he's surprisingly athletic, and his jump shot looks excellent in this small sample, it's Egor's basketball IQ and his ability to manipulate the defense with the small details that has analysts losing their minds at his potential.
Favorite play of the night from Egor Demin...
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) November 6, 2024
Gets it on the short roll, sees defenders denying entry pass so he pumps to draw in the block help & create space for an open corner 3.
And even the pass... the velocity & ball placement are PERFECT. Wildly high IQ player https://t.co/QFIJwKUo6x pic.twitter.com/5hGHHfsHtf
On a night that the Cougars shared with the presidential election, it could be difficult to tell who was anxiously awaiting the result of the vote, and who was simply a college basketball fan losing their minds over Egor's 18 and 11.
Just went for a long walk and couldn't believe the energy on the streets of Manhattan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 5, 2024
Didn't think that Coleman Hawkins' debut at Kansas State and Egor Demin's debut at BYU would generate this type of a buzz in New York.
Egor keeps shoveling coal into the furnace that powers the Cougars' offense, and it's wonderful to see how his teammates thrive on his passing ability and gravitational pull. When Demin touches the basketball, all eyes are on him--similar to Stephen Curry, but to a much lesser degree--but they're mostly worried about where the ball may whip to next. If they aren't careful, he will gladly knock down a 3-pointer over the sagging defense, which is a shot he hit 4 of his 7 attempts.
Deadly.
We have plenty to get excited about in Provo, and BYU basketball's next era should be one to watch for everyone across the college basketball landscape.