While BYU’s sensational freshman point guard Egor Demin hasn’t yet declared for the NBA Draft and has left the door open to return to Provo next year, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to go pro.
Early in the season, the young Russian was widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. In early December 2024 Sam Vecenie of the New York Times had the 6-foot-9 point guard as the No. 2 prospect in this year’s draft. CBS Sports’ December 2024 mock draft had Demin being selected No. 3 overall. Throughout the early months of the season he was widely considered a Top 5 pick.
When it comes to money, where NBA first round picks are selected matters – big time. The No. 5 pick in last year’s NBA Draft signed a 4-year, $37.5 million contract, per Spotrac.
Early in the season, it looked like BYU’s prize freshman was going to cash in with a massive rookie deal. But then Big 12 conference play started on New Year’s Eve, and as the level of competition ratcheted up, Demin’s shortcomings were put on full display.
Demin’s Big 12 slide
Once Big 12 conference play began and Egor faced relentless pressure nearly every game, NBA scouts quickly pointed out his inconsistent scoring (9.8 PPG in conference play), very shaky 3-point shooting (22.6%), and propensity for turnovers (3.2 per game).
By the end of Big 12 play, Demin’s draft stock was sliding.
In late February Egor had slid to No. 13 in Fox Sports' mock draft. He landed at No. 13 in Sport Illustrated's mock, too. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, Bleacher Report’s mock draft had him as the No. 18 overall pick while NBA.com knocked him all the way down to No. 25.
Prior to the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, several credible mock drafts had Egor Demin being drafted around No. 17, on average.
The No. 17 pick in the 2024 draft signed a 4-year, $18.5 million contract.
Simple math tells us there’s a $19 million difference between the No. 5 pick ($37.5 million) and the No. 17 pick ($18.5 million) over the duration of their rookie contracts.
But then the calendar turned to March and in the NCAA Tournament he had one of the best three-game stretches of his freshman campaign.
Egor Demin’s NCAA Tournament excellence
In three NCAA Tournament games Egor flashed his immense potential. Against three solid opponents - VCU, Wisconsin, and Alabama - Demin averaged 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
Demin’s scoring ability impressed. He got buckets at the rim, on stepbacks, and showed a fluid 3-point shot.
After the Wisconsin game CBS Sports ran three mock drafts where he went No. 9, No. 12, and No. 13. NBADraft.net did a mock draft on March 28th and had him going No. 9. More post-Sweet 16 mock drafts are sure to come, but if they continue to have Egor Demin going closer to No. 10 than No. 20 he can thank his solid NCAA Tournament play.
While Top 5 money isn’t a reality for Demin at this point, after his solid March Madness play he could land closer to No. 10.
The No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft signed a 4-year, $24.9 million contract.
The No. 17 pick signed an $18.5 million deal.
If Egor Demin’s tournament play can help him rise from No. 17 to No. 10, that’s a difference of $6.4 million. Not a bad payday for three solid games in March.