BYU Basketball's Egor Demin Makes 25 Impact Freshmen List

Talmage Morgan | 2 Hours Ago

Trevin Knell and Egor Demin / BYU Photo

Egor Demin’s decision to sign at BYU is one that Cougar fans will remember for a long time, and is a close second to the news that Kevin Young had come on as head Coach. If there was ever a moment in recent BYU sports history to remember what you were doing when you found out, it's this one.

ESPN Sources with @Draftexpress: Real Madrid’s Egor Demin — a projected 2025 NBA Draft lottery pick — has committed to BYU and coach Kevin Young for the 2024-‘25 season. Demin’s a highly skilled 6-9 Russian guard who’ll arrive as one of most talented recruits in program history. pic.twitter.com/EJcNAyqN9N

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 28, 2024

What makes Egor so exciting isn't just that he's the Cougars' first-ever five-star recruit. At 6'9", Demin has a rare combination of size, skill, and versatility. Jon Rothstein recognized him as one of the 25 freshmen expected to make the biggest impact in the upcoming season:

25 impact freshmen for the 2024-25 college basketball season.https://t.co/6fktw9svRr

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 18, 2024

Demin isn't just a big man who can post up or rebound; he's a playmaker. It doesn't matter whether he’s running the offense, driving to the basket, or finding an open shooter, his high basketball IQ will make him a nightmare for opposing defenses. BYU head coach Kevin Young has repeatedly emphasized that Demin’s skill set will fit perfectly into the up-tempo style ball that BYU wants to play.

What’s even more exciting for Cougar fans is Demin’s upside. It's true that he's already considered a top prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft, but how he develops within Young’s program will be something to watch. His shooting from deep is still a bit of a question mark, but if he can knock down threes consistently, he’ll be nearly impossible to defend. Even without a reliable long-range shot, his ability to drive, pass, and defend at a high level will make him an instant contributor to BYU’s push for a deep NCAA Tournament run in their second season in the Big 12.