BYU Player Profile: Egor Demin

What will international prospect Egor Demin bring to BYU?
Real Madrid taking on Panathinaikos in the Euroleague final
Real Madrid taking on Panathinaikos in the Euroleague final / ODD ANDERSEN/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next

Luka-like?

Luka Doncic
Young Luka Doncic during his time with Real Madrid. He's certainly grown since then / Sipa USA-USA TODAY NETWORK

The first thing many will notice about Demin is his frame. Standing 6 feet and 9 inches with a wingspan just shy of 7 feet, you'd expect Egor to be a promising forward. As a guard, Demin stands out.

Many have looked at Demin and made the lazy comparison of the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic. Comparing a white guard from Real Madrid to another would typically be a lazy take, and you'd be feeling my wrath for uttering it if it didn't carry some merit. To be a gifted playmaker and talented scorer at his size is rare, and any comparison to an NBA MVP candidate is welcome for aspiring NBA-level talent.

At only 18 years of age, Doncic earned MVP honors from the Euroleague--which is a legitimate basketball league where most teams could pound the best college teams. We don't tolerate Euroleague slander in this dojo. Demin has been suiting up for Real Madrid's U18 squad and didn't win MVP awards, but his potential has undeniably flashed throughout his time with the club.

Both tall guards with control of the offense comparable to the Pinocchio-wielding Stromboli (Geppeto was the creator, not the puppeteer. Don't you dare forget it), Doncic and Demin have never been the bounciest athlete on the court, but defenses respect them from everywhere. In Demin's case, college basketball will have to adapt to the Russian's wide array of offensive weapons.