Let's face it: Egor Demin is a divisive NBA prospect.
I, along with many of his supporters, see Egor as a playmaking visionary. A player capable of mind-controlling the defense as a whole and stealing their souls all with a glance of his eyes and a flick of his wrist, this jumbo point guard could be an exceptional asset to an NBA roster sooner than many think.
His shot is showing improvement and upside in NCAA Tournament minutes and combine workouts, and his athleticism has probably become underrated with time (if that makes any sense). Yet his detractors are loud and unavoidable.
"He can't shoot." "He's turnover prone." "His handle is less tight than the lid of the ice cream tub in my freezer." "He's too weak on defense." Trust me: I've heard it all.
But from what I'm hearing, and what I've witnessed, this Moscow-born 6'9" hooper is on a rocket ship to the draft lottery, and possibly the top 10 of the draft order.
Playmaking Ability
Some players are born with tunnel vision; an inability (or unwillingness) to look for his teammates and improve the flow of the offense. Think Cam Whitmore. Think Keyonte George when he hits a few shots in a row.
With Egor, his problem is almost the opposite. He is far happier than most to dish away the basketball and get his teammates involved. At times, this selflessness can border on passiveness, but don't be fooled. He is tactical, calculating, and patient enough to use his frame and deliver pinpoint passes on time and on target -- repeatedly.
With the trend of large playmakers leading the charge for NBA offenses, Egor may be destined for more of a supplementary role, but he promises to deliver elite playmaking given the proper patience and guidance.
Scoring Upside
Egor's bucket-getting resume was -- to be kind -- spotty. On occasion, he would completely disappear for games at a time. Incapable of connecting from distance, and too weak to find his shot against the physicality of interior defense at the rim.
That said, he steadily improved as the season advanced. Shaking off his mid-season slump, he started hitting jumpers, getting paint touches, and imposing his will upon the defense, rather than getting pushed off his lines.
In addition to that, he shocked scouts during his combine workouts, delivering strong shooting performances in nearly every shooting drill with a form that is quick, replicable, and consistent. If Egor could be a double-digit scorer at the NBA level, that would open up a world of space to operate.
Different Play Styles
Though I can't quantify it, the NBA and NCAA play different styles of basketball. More exotic looks on defense, and more rigid offensive structures characterizes the college hoops landscape, and the hyper-aggressive defensive looks Egor received thanks to playing in the Big 12 Conference certainly challenged him.
To mixed results, Egor both thrives and collapses when the defense gets risky. The fact that he has strong examples of overcoming a challenging front should be encouraging to NBA scouts. The pieces are there, and the track record has positives. Given the right circumstances, they can make it work.