What’s Next For BYU Basketball Guard Egor Demin?
Apr 2, 2025, 1:44 PM | Updated: 2:38 pm
PROVO, Utah – Egor Demin probably never envisioned his basketball career taking him to BYU.
The Moscow native and former Real Madrid star took a chance on college basketball this past year, which many have assumed would be a quick detour towards a life in the NBA.
But after one season, the talented 6-foot-9 guard immersed himself as a “BYU guy” by connecting with the fan base and helping lead the program to its first Sweet 16 in 14 years.
Kevin Young on Egor Demin: “The guy loves BYU, man”
“He’s an unbelievable kid. He cares so much about this program and about this university. I mean, the guy loves BYU, man,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said about Demin after the Sweet 16 loss to Alabama.
“He told me one time, ‘Coach, I could play here for the next 10 years.’ I was like, ‘Just give me four,'” Young said with a smile. “But that just kind of speaks to how much he’s really embraced the community.”
That embrace of BYU and its fans has many wondering if Demin could run it back at BYU for another season to pair up with No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa and hold off on being selected as a first-round NBA draft pick.
Demin himself noted in Newark last week that he’s “not trying to make any decision right now.” But he did address the momentum that is building for BYU basketball with Dybantsa coming into the mix next season, and that it has him pondering the thought of a return for a second year in Provo.
Egor Demin: What’s next?
“I think this is a huge thing for BYU. I think this is the start of something really beautiful,” said Demin. “As we know, AJ is coming, and he could be one of the reasons why I want to be back next year. KY (Kevin Young) is an amazing guy, and I’m super grateful for everything he did. The thing I can say is that my decision earlier in the summer to come here wasn’t a mistake at all.”
Egor Demin sees a bright future ahead for BYU basketball. pic.twitter.com/h6RJ58i6ng
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
The All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection finished the season averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds.
With BYU’s backup point guard, Dallin Hall, announcing he is entering the Transfer Portal, Demin’s decision takes on greater intrigue as BYU needs a point guard for the 2025-26 season.
Kevin Young and his coaching staff are keeping all avenues open. BYU will reportedly host Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr. on a visit in Provo. Demary Jr. could play either spot on the guard line, depending on what Demin chooses to do.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa, who recruiting analysts slot as a small forward, can also play along the guard line.
Demin’s I.Q. and passing are strengths in his game
Days after BYU lost to Alabama in the Sweet 16, Demin was back in Provo looking like a typical college student.
On the day Lee Cummard was introduced as BYU’s women’s basketball head coach, Demin was above the assembled media on the second floor of the Marriott Center Annex, diving into his schoolwork.
Again, Demin fits in well at BYU.
However, his skill set is also a great fit in the NBA.
“His size, but it’s also his IQ and passing. It’s something that you can’t teach to his level,” said former BYU star Travis Hansen to the KSL Sports Zone’s JJ & Alex last week. “You can try to use film, but at 18, the talent and gift he has of running a team, leading it, and his passing is unbelievable. So that’s what [NBA teams] are seeing.”
Hansen is a mentor in Demin’s life. The former BYU star played professional basketball in Russia during his playing career and has known Demin’s father, Vladimir, who runs the junior league development teams in Russia.
Demin, who turned 19 last month, has a strong support system with Hansen in Utah County. Last month, Hansen’s family held a birthday party for Demin, his first celebration of his birthday in three years. Before being at BYU, he was on his own at Real Madrid, playing in basketball tournaments during his birthday.
Would the connections and close bonds Demin has formed in Provo be enough to get him to come back?
Adam Finkelstein from CBS Sports tabbed Demin to go No. 12 to the Dallas Mavericks.
Bleacher Report has Demin staying close to home and going to the Utah Jazz at No. 18.
Then there’s ESPN, which had Demin going No. 9 to the Portland Trailblazers. That was before an impactful run in the NCAA Tournament, where he showed off his game’s flair, that have made him a coveted prospect since playing at a high level of basketball at the age of 15.
Could Demin go higher at this point?
It’s a tougher decision than many expected it would become when Demin signed with BYU last summer.
Areas to improve
There are areas where Demin can improve. For starters, turnovers are an area that can improve in the smooth ball handler’s game. Demin finished with an average of 2.9 turnovers per game in his freshman campaign against a gauntlet of Big 12 opponents.
The three-point shooting was at 27% this season, but showed improvement in the postseason. With the number of shooters he will be around in the NBA, he probably gets more open looks at the next level where he won’t hover around a percentage like that again.
No “pitch” is coming from BYU’s staff
Regardless of the decision, Kevin Young is going to support him.
“I won’t quote, unquote, ‘pitch anything.’ I think those are really calculated decisions,” Young said last week in Newark. “He’s got some great support in his corner. So, that stuff is very personal. It’s also very situational. I’ll try to lend some advice to him the best I can, given my NBA connections, and try to make sure he understands how they view him, where they view him at, and so forth. But obviously, we would clearly welcome him back.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
