On June 25th of this year, BYU basketball fans will be tuning into the NBA draft with a vested interest for the first time in almost fifteen years. The reason? Egor Demin, who had a memorable season in his one and only season in Provo. Coming over from Real Madrid, the Russian prospect was a huge splash for Kevin Young and the BYU program.
Regarded as a 5-star prospect, Demin was BYU’s highest ever recruit at the time, with more than enough potential for the NBA. But more than just an addition to the roster, Demin’s decision marked a turning point for Cougar basketball, as the program now shifts to becoming a more attractive destination for top recruits.
Egor's Season in Review
Egor’s season turned into a bit of a roller coaster ride as the year progressed. But unless you suffer from motion sickness, roller coasters are a lot of fun, and the same can be said about Demin’s journey.
He opened the season with a bang, scoring 18 points and dropping 11 assists in a win over Central Arkansas, and he only scored under double figures once through his first five games. His passing and playmaking were on display from the start, routinely distributing no-look passes, alley-oops, and making other dazzling plays, surprising both opposing defenses and BYU fans alike.
And perhaps the best part of this early stretch was his 3-point shooting, entering Thanksgiving week having made over 56% of his attempts. Unfortunately, this shooting wasn’t meant to last. He ended the season shooting just 27.3% from deep. A knee injury suffered in early December kept him out for most of the month, and he was never quite able to replicate his November success.
Another struggle in Demin’s game this season was turning the ball over. As the season wore on, the physicality in the Big 12 only seemed to increase, and the Cougars repeatedly faced heavy ball pressure, blitzes, and double-teams on the perimeter. Despite Egor’s terrific passing and court vision, he often struggled against such pressure, averaging nearly 3 turnovers per contest, and sometimes 5 or 6 in a single game.
But to his credit, he did show signs of improvement, especially when it mattered most. Against Wisconsin in the Round of 32, Demin tallied 8 assists to just 1 turnover. He didn’t shoot it great in that game, but in general he was able to generate more points in February and March. His ability to get to the rim and finish through or around contact was one of his strengths as well, and helped BYU escape Ames with a win thanks to a bucket in the closing seconds of the first overtime.
While decent off-ball, Demin was best with the ball in his hands. Although not perfect, he was still one of the best passers in all of college basketball, and was huge in helping his teammates get easy points, whether at the rim or on the perimeter. And even without his 3-point shot falling, Demin's scoring was decent in the mid-range and excellent at the rim. On the season, he scored 10.6 points per game (2nd most on the team) and shot 67% at the rim, a great mark for a guard.
On the defensive side, Demin’s results were also mixed. He grabbed almost 4 rebounds per game and could be an excellent shot contester. He also led the Cougars in steals with 1.2 per game and was excellent at disrupting passing lanes and generating easy fast break buckets for BYU. His size also allowed for great defensive versatility, letting him switch onto most players without consequence. But a lack of quickness often left him vulnerable guarding one-on-one, especially with shifty, experienced Big 12 guards. Overall, BYU was a slightly better defensive team with Demin off the floor than on.
Final Grade: B
It was far from a perfect season for Demin, but it was still exactly what BYU needed. His consistent playmaking made everyone around him better and his scoring, while inconsistent, featured plenty of high level buckets. Through the highs and the lows, Demin embodied BYU and his love for the community all season, and brought a level of excitement to the Marriott Center that hasn’t been seen since Jimmer.