BYU Basketball Off to Strong Start with Freshmen Sensations Kanon Catchings and Egor Demin

BYU basketball is making waves in the early stages of the 2024-25 season, thanks in large part to the impressive performances of freshmen Kanon Catchings and Egor Demin. In their college debuts against Central Arkansas, Catchings and Demin showcased their talent, combining for 35 points and eight three-pointers.

Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 guard from Moscow, Russia, made history by becoming only the second player in Big 12 Conference history to score 10+ points and dish out 10+ assists in his freshman debut. He joined NBA All-Star Trae Young, who achieved this feat in 2017. Demin’s stat line included 18 points, 11 assists, four steals, and four rebounds in BYU’s 88-50 victory over Central Arkansas.

Kanon Catchings, from Brownsburg, Indiana, also had a standout performance, recording three blocks in his debut, the second most blocks ever by a BYU player in their first game. Catchings is praised for his scoring ability, and Coach Kevin Young is looking for him to grow on the defensive end, noting that “if he can guard, the sky’s the limit for him”.

BYU, ranked in the Top 20 of the KenPom ratings, continued their homestand by hosting UC Riverside from the Big West Conference on Friday, November 8. The game was broadcast on ESPN+ and KSL NewsRadio. UC Riverside, despite a strong backcourt led by Barrington Hargress, was predicted to face a tough challenge against the Cougars, with BYU favored to win by a significant margin according to various projections.

The strong start to the season has generated significant buzz around the BYU basketball program under first-year head coach Kevin Young. With Demin and Catchings leading the charge, BYU fans are optimistic about the team’s potential this season.