For the second time in as many months, the BYU basketball team has benefited from a “Woj Bomb.” On Tuesday, Wojnarwoski reported that international star Egor Demin has committed to Kevin Young and the BYU basketball program. Demin, who currently plays for Real Madrid in Europe, is one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft. In ESPN's most recent mock draft, he was projected to be the ninth overall pick.
Source: ESPN Draft Express: Real Madrid forward Egor Demin, a potential lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has agreed to sign with BYU and head coach Kevin Young for the 2024-'25 season. Demin, a 6-foot-9 Russian guard, joins the program as one of the most talented recruits in program history. pic.twitter.com/EJcNAyqN9N
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 28, 2024
The signing of Demin is one of the biggest recruiting wins in BYU basketball history — some might even say it's the best recruiting win of all time, or even the second-greatest behind the signing of Shawn Bradley in the 1980s — but the deal by Kevin Young and staff is especially impressive because Demin is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Demmin has not yet received a star rating from evaluators because he is not a traditional recruit prospect, but since star ratings are based on professional potential, Demmin would likely be a five-star recruit if he were to be rated.
Demmin will likely be a one-year player at BYU, something BYU fans may not be familiar with, but he has the potential to become the first NBA first-round draft pick from BYU since Jimmer Fredette.
Demmin boasts elite size at 6'8″ for a guard. His size, combined with his well-rounded offensive prowess, makes him one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft. He has excellent ball handling, can distribute and generate offense, and can make the 3-point shot. He will make an immediate impact at BYU.
The acquisition of Demmin is another achievement for BYU's new head coach, Kevin Young. Since being hired by BYU, Young has been successful in recruiting many players. During his inaugural press conference, Kevin Young said he wanted to build a pipeline to the NBA at BYU. The first step in building a pipeline to the NBA is to acquire elite players. Although it is still early days, Kevin Young is acquiring players at a level that can build a pipeline from BYU to the NBA.
