Let's face it, Egor Demin has disappointed in early returns with Kevin Young and BYU to this point. The projected lottery pick just endured what was arguably his worst performance on the year, when the Cougars suffered their first loss to TCU in this millennium.
In a game that saw the Cougars dominated in the turnover margin against a TCU team that was inferior on paper, Demin was the head baker in the turnover factory. 4 giveaways to match his assist total, meanwhile scoring on inefficient splits.
Fans are left scratching their heads. Wasn't this kid supposed to usher in a new era of BYU hoops? The Russia native who would ride into Provo on the back of a grizzly. His brilliance atop the great beast met only by his brilliance upon the playing surface. An orchestrator of ball movement. Lead drummer of the swing band.
Instead, stinkers like Saturday's affair in Fort Worth have become the norm. Egor hasn't impressed with an complete effort since before BYU's manhandling courtesy of the Providence Friars. Though he suffered a minor injury in the Big 12-Big East battle, we need to face the facts: as the competition has improved, neither Egor nor his team has ascended to meet it.
Though many (mainly out of hope) suggest Egor remains in Provo for another season of development instead of jumping to the NBA, Demin hasn't lost sight of his goal, even as the noise around him grows deafening.
The reason? He's still a projected lottery pick. Despite the turnovers, he's top 14. In spite of his questionable ball-handling and shooting capability, teams are clamoring for the guy. The reason? Well, it's simple: the NBA drafts based on potential, rather than the current product. Instead of a flashy sports car, many struggling franchises prefer to invest in real estate--Demin's value could appreciate rapidly in the NBA game.
My interest was aroused upon a quick glance at a recent mock draft courtesy of The Athletic, placing Demin as the 7th player off the board in their projection.
We’re firmly into conference play in the college basketball season, which means it’s time to update the 2025 NBA mock draft 👀
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) January 9, 2025
After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, there are a lot of questions.
Read: https://t.co/MmIKnyOYPK pic.twitter.com/CMUDNHvxuj
And again, a glance at On3's projections see Demin as the 8th selection. Fox is remarkably lower on Demin than their peers, yet still have the Russian point guard slotted at 13th overall. Yes, that's still a lottery projection, and yes, that's still good enough for Egor to leap into the loving arms of professional basketball.
In what universe would a virtual lottery lock stay in school for a second season, even with Dybantsa and Staton making their BYU debut in 2026? No universe. Don't Doctor Strange me on this, there is no universe that can see Demin sticking around. No time vortex that can offer a glimmer of Demin-to-Dybantsa-flavored hope.
Sure, Demin is struggling, but the NBA cares about what he's capable of--even in willfull ignorance of his drawbacks.
Not to mention, we're only halfway through the season, and Egor is still 18 years old. The future of this Cougar's career should provide tremendous optimism for casual onlookers and psychotically-involved fanatics alike.