For the first time in a while, NBA scouts flocked to Provo this past season to get every look they could at Egor Demin. But despite the freshman grabbing the early headlines and putting together a great season, it was most often Richie Saunders who impressed those inside the Marriott Center.
The junior guard lead BYU in scoring with 16.5 points per game, shooting 43.2% from 3, and receiving First-Team All-Big 12 honors. And when news came in that his great-grandfather invented the tater tot, he received national attention, a nice NIL deal, and cemented himself as one of the greats.
But where do things stand as of now? Well, Saunders and all other players have until Saturday night at 9:59 MT to declare as early entrants for the 2025 NBA draft. Even after doing so, it is possible to go through the pre-draft process without hiring an agent and decide to withdraw your name later on. This method is often a popular idea, giving players real feedback from NBA teams and scouts about what they need to improve on the most.
Recently, guys like Corey Kispert (Gonzaga) and Jalen Wilson (Kansas) have successfully gone this route, returning for their senior seasons to receive First-Team All-American honors, and are now carving out successful careers in the NBA.
But even today things are more complicated than they were a few years ago. NIL deals have exploded, and Saunders could make a lot of money playing one more year for the Cougars. But what might push Saunders towards the NBA sooner rather than later is his age.
At 23, he is already one of the older draft prospects, well ahead of the preferred 18-19-year-old players that teams look for. You can look at this one of two ways: 1. Saunders is an older prospect who needs to get to the NBA as soon as possible. Or 2. He is already one of the oldest prospects, so what does one more year matter?
Richie Saunders Scouting Report
Either way, age is certainly going to be a factor in both Saunders’ decision and an NBA team’s decision in pursuing him. But any team completely disregarding him is making a huge mistake. Saunders shooting alone could get him a spot on an NBA team, with a quick and tough to contest release to go on top of crazy high volume and accuracy. Inside the arc, he demonstrated plenty of crafty finishing this year, using change of pace, floaters, reverse layups, and strength through contact to make up for a lack of superb athleticism.
The biggest question marks for his offensive game come as a facilitator and play maker. He doesn't always get a ton of separation from defenders and probably won't run any offenses at the next level. But his movement off the ball is elite and should still land him some sort of role in the NBA.
And defensively, Saunders can pest the ball handlers to no end. At 6-5, he has enough size to be somewhat versatile on the defensive end, at least enough to not get picked on over and over again. Still, he’s likely not big or athletic enough to be a total defensive stopper, but he should have just enough to defend well in a number of situations. And guys like Alex Caruso, Derrick White, and Jalen Suggs prove you don’t need to be the biggest or most athletic guy to defend well in the NBA.
In fact, the White/Caruso archetype might be the most accurate projection for Saunders at the next level. The term “3-and-D” has become a bit overused in today’s world, but Saunders can provide both while also out hustling all nine other players on the floor.
So should Saunders consider making the NBA jump this summer? The answer is absolutely yes and that he already is doing so. Declaring for the draft could be a wise move and would still allow him to come back for one more year. BYU would be instant contenders with a pairing of Saunders and AJ Dybantsa. Or, he could elect to stay in the draft, and give himself a head start on finding his role at the next level.
As of now, things remain quiet on which path he'll take. The best guess is likely one more year at BYU, but he's too talented for that to be a lock. Whether it’s in Provo, Madison Square Garden, the Delta Center, or whatever arena your favorite team plays in, Saunders is bound to find plenty of success next season.