Is Egor Demin still a lottery pick? Assessing the BYU star's NBA draft stock after 15 games


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KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Egor Demin's NBA draft stock has dropped from mid-to-high to mid-to-low lottery pick.
  • Concerns include shooting struggles, lack of explosiveness, and defensive limitations against NBA guards.
  • Analyst Matt Babcock highlights Demin's court vision and potential as a unique prospect.

PROVO — As Egor Demin navigates his freshman campaign at BYU, questions loom amongst BYU fans and media members covering the team on over whether the highly-touted international recruit will be a one-and-done player lottery pick this coming June if he chooses to enter his name in the draft.

Through 15 games, Demin's statistical profile tells a mixed story.

The 6-foot-9 playmaker is averaging 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, showcasing his versatility, athleticism and basketball IQ; however, his shooting struggles — 42% from the field, 27.3% from 3-point range, and 63.4% from the free-throw line, as well as his inability to be effective through contact in the Big 12 — have sparked concerns about his readiness for the NBA..

NBA draft analyst Matt Babcock, a prominent voice in scouting, shared his thoughts on Demin's draft stock.

"I do think he's a one-and-done if he wants to be," Babcock said in an interview on Cougar Sports. "He's proven to be a talented kid. From our perspective — and I'm watching with an NBA lens — whether he's ready for the NBA right now or not, he's (ready for the NBA draft)."

Matt clarified that his draft stock had dropped a bit from his vantage point due though, saying: "He's gone from being a mid-to-high to a mid-to-low lottery pick."

Why has his stock dropped?

Demin entered the season with comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey — another tall, international playmaker. But Babcock believes those comparisons may no longer fit.

"Early on, a lot of people compared him to Josh Giddey, but I think Josh is a little quicker. Egor is more of a position-less playmaker," he said. "Defensively, I don't see him being able to guard NBA point guards."

Furthermore, there may also be concerns over his athleticism and aggressiveness. One of the key knocks on Demin has been his lack of explosiveness, which is something that has tempered Babcock's initial optimism.

"I was at BYU's season opener," Babcock explained. "The one thing that changed for me. … I'm a little concerned with his lack of explosiveness and athleticism. That might limit his ability to be a point guard. Going against the cream of the crop in the NBA, it's a whole other level. I see him more as a point forward, a secondary ball handler."

Babcock also noted Demin's need to step into a more assertive role.

"I'd like to see him shoot the ball more consistently," he added. "I'd like to see him be more aggressive. They need him to step into an alpha-dog kind of role."

Bright spots in a tough season

Despite his struggles, Demin's court vision and decision-making remain standout traits. Egor definitely showcases elite passing ability.

"He knows where everything is at all times. He's so decisive," Babcock said.

This ability to orchestrate an offense has kept him in the conversation as one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft.

Babcock also believes BYU can make the most of Demin's skill set by leaning on him as the centerpiece of their offense.

"With their current roster, I think they need to have the ball in Egor's hands," he said. "The more they can get things spread out and moving … that's when they're going to be most effective."

BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) blocks a shot from Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Arturo Dean (2) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) blocks a shot from Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Arturo Dean (2) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Photo: Isaac Hale, Deseret News)

BYU's tournament hopes

Demin's development is not only crucial for his NBA future but also for BYU's success in the hyper-competitive Big 12.

"They have the talent to be (a tournament team)," Babcock noted. "They need Egor to play at a high level. They're very dependent on him producing. They have a chance to win if Egor is playing to his potential."

Long-term potential

Despite the ups and downs of his freshman season, the consensus among analysts is that Demin has the tools to carve out a role in the NBA. His positional versatility, passing ability, length and basketball IQ make him a unique prospect, even if his athleticism and shooting remain works in progress.

"He's proven he belongs in the draft conversation, even if it's no longer at the top of the lottery," Babcock said.

Whether Demin can make the leap from intriguing developmental project to bonafide NBA top-5 lottery pick will depend largely on how quickly he can develop against the best competition at the collegiate level. For now, his draft stock remains influx, but the potential is undeniable.

For more in-depth analysis of BYU athletics, tune into Cougar Sports every weekday from 2-6 p.m. on the 103.9 & 98.3 FM.

For additional analysis of Egor Demin, see Babcock's in depth study of his game and skill set.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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