BYU Freshman Egor Demin Declares for NBA Draft in Bold Move

PROVO, Utah — Egor Demin, the standout point guard for BYU, has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, a source informed ESPN on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old, who is currently projected as a lottery pick, made the announcement during a press conference held at 10 a.m. MDT. During his freshman season, Demin averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while leading the Cougars to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2011.

“I’m super excited to announce that I will be putting my name in the 2025 NBA Draft,” Demin said during the press conference. His decision comes as little surprise given his performance throughout the season, where he earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors and a place on the All-Freshman Team.

Demin’s path to the draft has been anything but conventional. Born in Moscow, he migrated to Spain at 15 to play for Real Madrid, where he quickly developed into a highly regarded prospect. BYU reportedly invested over a million dollars in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals to secure his release from the club.

Despite struggling with perimeter shooting — hitting just 27.3% from three-point range — Demin exhibited tremendous potential, especially during the NCAA Tournament where he scored in double figures across all three games. He averaged 13.7 points and helped orchestrate critical plays, recording 17 assists alongside only six turnovers during the tournament.

ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony ranks Demin as the No. 12 prospect in this year’s draft class, highlighting his unique passing abilities and court vision. “Demin is the Three-Eyed Raven of this draft — he sees everything at all times,” wrote J. Kyle Mann, emphasizing Demin’s exceptional talent as a passer and his capacity to read defenses effectively.

The NBA Draft combine is scheduled for May 11-18 in Chicago, with the draft taking place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Teams will be closely evaluating Demin’s skills and potential as he transitions to the professional stage.

With Demin’s departure, BYU head coach Kevin Young will need to explore the transfer portal for a new starting point guard to fill the vacancy left by the talented 6-foot-9 playmaker.