Egor Demin is Emerging as a Potential Top 5 Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
Analyzing the Scorching Start of BYU’s 6'9" Point Guard This College Season
BYU freshman Egor Demin made his college debut on Tuesday, November 5th, and has quickly become one of the hottest draft prospects early in the 2024-25 college basketball season. According to Tuesday’s ESPN broadcast, around 70 NBA draft scouts have visited BYU over the past few weeks to get an in-person look at Demin. Through his first two games, he’s averaging an impressive 19.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 62.5% from the field and 50% from three. While the sample size is small, and BYU’s opponents rank 340th and 142nd in the college basketball KenPom rankings, Demin has shown promising flashes of his potential as a passer and playmaker, along with growth as a scorer. At the same time, he has revealed areas where his game will need further refinement.
Demin’s Refined and Creative Playmaking Talent
Through BYU’s first two games, Egor Demin is averaging 9.0 assists per game, ranking 14th in all of college basketball and 2nd in the highly competitive Big 12 conference. The most immediate standout when watching Demin is how effortlessly he creates opportunities for his teammates. His passing is both creative and precise, setting up shooters and cutters for easy baskets. His playmaking style resembles that of Josh Giddey or Ben Simmons; at 6’9”, he leverages his height to see plays develop in ways that few other college players can. While his size is a major asset as a passer, it’s closely complemented by his high basketball IQ. To truly appreciate what makes Demin’s passing so effective, the film speaks volumes.
Egor began his college basketball campaign by showcasing his high IQ. Right after the opening tip, Central Arkansas attempted to trap Demin in the backcourt to force a turnover. However, Demin quickly recognized the trap, and with his 6’9” frame, he looked over the defense and set up his teammate for a wide-open three-pointer. This may be the least flashy assist you’ll see from Demin, but it speaks volumes about his situational basketball IQ.
Often, a player can look elite in a college setting—even just for a game—leaving talent evaluators wondering, “How will this translate to the NBA?” Early in the first half of BYU’s opening game, Demin provided a glimpse of how his passing might function in an NBA-style offense. Bringing the ball down the court, BYU sets up in a horns formation. With Catchings and Traore in position, Catchings sets a ghost screen and flares around Traore’s screen. Demin hits Catchings in stride, placing the ball perfectly in the shooter’s pocket with impeccable timing. This play highlights that, even at the NBA level, Demin’s ability to set up his teammates should translate, allowing him to effectively run an NBA-style offense.
One standout asset Demin has shown as a passer is his creativity and quick reaction speed. In this play, Demin catches the ball in the paint as BYU looks to attack quickly. The Central Arkansas defense collapses, and Demin spots his big under-the-basket, delivering the pass immediately. While the speed of his decision is impressive, the ball placement is even more remarkable. Rather than placing it directly into his teammate’s hands, as many players might, Demin puts the ball just behind him, setting up a wide-open lob where no defender has a chance of reaching it.
Another skill Demin showcases from his extensive playmaking arsenal is his ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes. In this possession, BYU is running a baseline out-of-bounds play with multiple options for Demin. The defense is focused on the big under-the-basket and BYU’s guard, Richie Saunders, who is cutting toward the middle. Less attention is paid to shooter Trevin Knell, who slips past his defender to the corner. Demin’s eyes stay fixed on the middle of the floor, making the defense anticipate a pass there, but he quickly dishes it to Knell in the corner. Once again, his accuracy is impeccable, placing the ball right in Knell’s shooting pocket for an easy basket. Eye manipulation, though often underestimated, is a valuable way to disrupt defenses. Players like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are masters at it, and while Demin’s skill isn’t yet at their level, he’s shown promising signs of a similar talent.
Demin totaled 18 assists in his first two games, and he could easily have had several more. Perhaps his most impressive pass—and another example of his ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes and maintain pinpoint accuracy—didn’t result in an assist but still created a great look for his offense. In this play, Demin drives into the paint and whips the ball around a help defender’s body to find an open Richie Saunders. The speed and precision of this pass highlight exactly why Demin is drawing early-season buzz. Good passers can rack up assists in the NBA, but great passers can set up their teammates to do the same, and Demin has already shown a knack for that. Through BYU’s first two games, the team is averaging 18.0 assists per game, ranking 66th nationally—a number that is likely to rise as Demin continues to generate scoring opportunities.
Critics and skeptics are bound to emerge regarding Demin’s impressive start to the college basketball season, and understandably so. As mentioned, neither team he’s faced so far compares to the caliber of opponents he’ll encounter regularly in the Big 12. UC Riverside, however, provided a closer game than Central Arkansas, allowing Demin to showcase his skills in a slowed-down, crunch-time setting. In this possession, with the clock winding down to about 10 seconds, Demin runs a “stack pick-and-roll” with Keba Keita and Trevin Knell. Keita screens Demin’s defender while Knell screens Keita’s defender. Demin then drives deep into the paint, and as Keita’s defender recovers to prevent an easy layup, Demin leaps, threads a pass around the defender, and sets up Keita for a wide-open dunk. This play underscores Demin’s situational awareness, defensive reads, and creative passing under pressure. It will be intriguing to see how defenses adjust to Demin’s playmaking, but through his first two games, there’s every reason to believe he will continue to make smart passes and generate consistent offense.
Egor Demin’s Surprising Scoring Ability
Three-Point Shooting
Coming into college, Demin was known as an impressive passer but a limited scorer. Last year, while playing for Real Madrid in the Spain-EBA league, he averaged 13.0 points per game, shooting 57% on two-pointers and just 33% from three-point range across 21 games. These numbers were certainly respectable for a 17-year-old in Spain, but questions remained about how his scoring would translate to college basketball. Some high-level European recruits, like Baba Miller and Robertas Javtokas, had faced challenges adapting their game to the college level. However, Demin’s transition appears to be smoother. He’s now averaging 19.0 points per game, shooting 62% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. To further evaluate, we’ll review game footage to analyze which aspects of his scoring are sustainable and might translate to the NBA, and what this means for his long-term professional prospects.
A key swing skill that could elevate Egor Demin from a career trajectory similar to Josh Giddey's to an all-star caliber player is his three-point shooting—one of the NBA’s most critical skill sets. Demin has hit 50% of his first 12 three-point attempts, and while this efficiency is unlikely to remain so high, there are promising signs, such as in this play against Central Arkansas. BYU initiates their offense quickly, Demin takes the ball, and Keba Keita sets a screen. In a Luka Doncic-like move, Demin steps back behind the screen, creating ample space. His shot is balanced, with his chest squared to the basket, and his release is smooth and consistent, showing sound shooting mechanics.
On this play, rather than opting for a step-back three, Demin takes a pull-up jumper off the screen. He’s shown a solid ability to drive into the paint and create advantages, which makes him a versatile offensive threat. Many defenses may be inclined to go under screens on Demin, hoping to cut off his passing lanes to bigs. When they do, it's essential that Demin capitalizes on the extra space by hitting three-pointers—just as he does on this play. This ability to punish defenses with his shooting will be key to keeping them honest and expanding his offensive impact.
As the primary ball-handler, Demin won’t have many opportunities for catch-and-shoot three-pointers. However, he’s displayed solid form and mechanics when he does get the chance. In this instance, Saunders passes to an open Demin, who catches the ball in his shooting pocket, brings it up on his left side, and releases. Demin doesn’t jump much on his shot, instead leveraging his length and size. While his release isn’t particularly slow, he will likely need to quicken it to take advantage of catch-and-shoot opportunities in the NBA, where defenders close out faster.
With Egor shooting 50% from three-point range, it’s tempting to take a result-based view and conclude that his outside game is solid. However, there are still areas that need refinement. In this play, Demin takes an off-the-dribble three from NBA range against a well-contesting defender but overshoots, hitting the back rim. This raises an important question: “What does Demin’s shot look like when defenders are close, and he has to elevate to create separation?” His ability to adjust in these high-pressure situations will be crucial for his development as a consistent deep threat at the next level.
Inside-the-arc Scoring
Standing at 6’9”, Demin has the physical tools to score effectively inside the arc. His passing talent also impacts how defenses approach him, as defenders may overcommit to prevent him from setting up teammates. Playing point guard in the NBA, Demin will often face smaller defenders, which further highlights the importance of his inside scoring ability. Capitalizing on his size advantage and ability to finish around the rim will be essential to his game and will keep defenses from solely focusing on his playmaking skills.
Demin has demonstrated his inside scoring ability, particularly in pick-and-roll situations when paired with a lob threat. In this play, BYU runs a high screen-and-roll with Demin and Keba Keita. As Demin navigates around the screen, he positions his defender behind him, with the secondary defender dropping back. Unable to cut off Demin’s path to the basket without leaving Keita open for a lob, the defender stays on Demin's hip. Demin capitalizes, scoring over the defender with solid touch—a promising display of his effectiveness in these scenarios.
In another instance against UC Riverside, Demin and Keita execute the high screen-and-roll, creating a similar one-on-one scenario for Demin. He takes advantage, driving with his right hand and finishing off the top of the glass. His layup placement is excellent, but a few patterns are beginning to emerge—most notably, his preference for attacking with his right hand. This tendency, while effective, may become predictable, so developing more balance in his approach could enhance his scoring versatility and make him harder to defend.
Demin projects as a pick-and-roll savant, yet there are other facets of his inside scoring that could elevate him to a top-5 pick. In this possession against UC Riverside, he showcases his skill in changing pace and creating angles. BYU pushes in transition, with Demin initially accelerating, then slowing down inside the arc to absorb contact from his defender. As the defender adjusts to his pace, Demin maneuvers around his hip and finishes with a right-handed layup. This nuanced control over speed and timing enhances his effectiveness near the rim and highlights his versatility as a scorer.
This play is a standout moment, showcasing Demin’s handle and athleticism with a powerful dunk. BYU runs a high pick-and-roll, and the defenders blitz, but as the screener dives into the paint, Demin’s original defender tries to recover. Demin takes advantage, executing an around-the-back dribble to go left and then throws down a left-handed dunk, displaying impressive athleticism. This play not only highlights his skill in handling defensive pressure but also his ability to capitalize with explosive finishes, adding a dynamic element to his offensive repertoire.
After observing two games, it’s evident that inside finishing isn’t Demin’s greatest strength, but there’s reason to believe he can become above-average in this aspect. Key areas for improvement include developing his left hand, adding a floater and mid-range game, and creating better separation. As he gains experience, it will be intriguing to see how these facets of his game evolve and impact his scoring consistency inside the arc.
Egor Demin’s Biggest Weakness, Defense
At 6’9”, Demin possesses excellent positional size, but there is still room for growth on the defensive end. While he brings strong timing, anticipation, and intelligence—skills he showcases offensively—his slower lateral speed could limit his defensive ceiling. Improving his footwork and agility will be crucial for him to reach his full potential as a defender, complementing his natural instincts and awareness.
This play highlights both Demin’s solid anticipation and his slower lateral speed. Against Central Arkansas, he reads the play correctly and attempts a steal on the wing, but he’s just a bit too slow, allowing his opponent to blow past him. His inability to recover quickly enough results in a defensive breakdown. This example underscores the need for quicker lateral movement to fully capitalize on his defensive instincts and make these reads more effective.
A more positive display of Demin’s defensive potential is seen in this play, where his length becomes a clear asset. Central Arkansas tries to pass to the player Demin is guarding, but he uses his reach to deflect the ball and secures the steal, initiating a transition opportunity. Plays like this highlight the potential for Demin to generate a few impactful defensive moments per game. Given his excellent passing skills, he can turn these steals into exciting transition plays, adding an extra dimension to his game and energizing his team’s fast-break opportunities.
At BYU, Demin’s defensive role resembles that of a shooting guard or small forward, as he’s rarely assigned to guard at the point of attack. This suggests that BYU’s coaching staff may be strategically “hiding” him on defense—a tactic reminiscent of how the Mavericks use Luka Doncic. Similarly to Luka, Demin’s size can discourage teams from targeting him for mismatches, allowing him to focus more on his offensive contributions. However, defense will be his biggest area for improvement and the aspect most worth monitoring when assessing his potential as a top-5 prospect. Even if he doesn’t make significant strides defensively, his intellect and size will continue to provide value on that end of the floor.
As the 2025 NBA Draft class continues to develop, Egor Demin is emerging as a notable prospect. His exceptional passing ability stands out and is expected to translate well to the NBA. Offensively, his scoring and shooting are areas that could elevate him into top-5 consideration. If Demin can maintain his efficiency while increasing his scoring volume against stronger defenders, it's plausible to see him being regarded as a top-5 pick. A 6’9” facilitator with his playmaking skills and scoring potential would be highly valued in any draft class. Observing how Demin's freshman season at BYU unfolds, particularly as they enter Big 12 competition, will be crucial in assessing his draft stock.