EGOR DEMIN DE BYU explains why he declares for the draft of the NBA – Deseret News

The leader Egor Demin said that his heart has brought him back to Byu for a few months now, but his head told him to declare the NBA draft, where he will be a first -round choice – perhaps even a choice of lottery – June 25.

His head won.

DEMIN made this announcement on Tuesday in what was equivalent to a trilingual press conference in the annex to the Marriott Center – the BYU basketball practice center – ending months of speculation concerning the future of the 19 -year -old Russian.

Speaking in English for those who are present and watching on television, then Spanish for the people back to Real Madrid, his former academy, then the Russian for his parents and his family members in Moscow, Demin became authentic, sincere, recognizing and even a little melancholic while he described his reasons for leaving for the first basketball league in the world.

“I am happy (the decision has been made),” he said. “It was a few days and weeks of hard thought and prayer, and be between the two (stay or leave), and really try to find a way to understand what will be my next step.

“It was quite stressful, not only for me, but for my family and for people who were next to me trying to help me,” he continued. “And yes, I am happy that now it’s official and that I can finally expire and go to the next stage of my career.”

DEMIN said he was 100% engaged in the decision and would not only pass the pre-treatment process, then would make a decision on a later date, as many other NBA prospects have done so. He also said that he “would wear the Byu logo and represent him wherever I go” and that he plans to return to finish his studies and obtain his diploma in Byu while he makes his trip through professional basketball.

“I love this place so much,” he said, in what was equivalent to other prospects of considering the school supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, of which he is not a member. “Cougar Nation is a large part of whom I am now. … This place is full of intelligent people and dedicated people … trying to improve, on the field and out of the field.”

DEMIN said he had made the decision “a few days ago”, then led it by byu’s basketball coach Kevin Young and certain teammates. He said other teammates did not know before Tuesday morning when the news disclosed that he declared for the project.

Turning to Young, who flanked him at the press conference, as well as former goalkeeper by Byu Travis Hansen, Demin told the first -year coach whom he had appreciated the way he had been transformed into a hope of the NBA last season by the 43 -year -old coach.

“You gave me everything you could, and I’m super grateful,” said Demin.

Demin then turned to Hansen, who spent time playing professionally in Russia, for Real Madrid, and became a substitution parent, in a way, for the star of one and given, and thanked him for having done it for dinner “almost every Sunday evening” and to facilitate his transition in the United States.

He said Hansen is “my mentor, my best friend and my brother almost more flexible”.

Demin said that when he made the decision to sign with Byu last summer, he was worried about the religious nature of the school and the way he would be integrated not only as a stranger, but a non-member of the predominant faith of UTAH.

“I came here with faith, and I leave here with greater faith, and stronger faith, in God and (this) well can happen if you believe in this, and if you pray, and devote it to the Lord and if you trust him,” said Demin. “It was a big question for me, what was going to look like this season at the start of the year.

“I was really nervous and I didn’t know what to expect. But faith was the way of knowing how to get out of these thoughts for me and I trusted the process, and I trusted God … and I think he has a plan for each of us. “

Among the people present in The Pressher, Byu Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Brody Kozlowski, Mihailo Boskovic and Jared McGREGOR basketball players. Of course, Saunders, 23, has a similar decision to take, although from a different angle, having played byu in the last three seasons and now considered a potential prospect of the NBA because of its rapid ascent during the 2024-25 season during which Byu went 26-10, reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, and ended up NCAA Press 25 survey published Tuesday.

In addition to Young, the coaches of Byu such as Will Voigt, John Linehan, Doug Stewart, Jordan Brady, Nate Austin and Charles Abouo were present. And sitting at the rear was the girlfriend of Demine, the Byu basketball star Delaney Gibb.

She recently announced that she was staying in Provo for her second season, coupled with a cryptic message on social networks by Demin citing the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche about the reversal of the world with a sheet of paper and something with what to write, made believe that the phenomenon was back for another year.

But that doesn’t happen, of course.

“I am super excited to announce that I will put my name in the draft of the NBA 2025. This is another challenge that I am ready to take, and I am not afraid of the problems that I could encounter on this path,” said Demin. “And, thank you to these guys (Hansen and Young) next to me, and my teammates, my coaches, to be there for me right now.”

Demin said that he and his family and his group of advisers have kept an eye on the sketches of the NBA, especially after shining in the NCAA tournament, and some favorable projections that he could be selected in the upper half of the first round played in his decision.

He ended his only season in Provo with an average of 13.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game and became only the ninth recruit in the history of the big dance to have at least 10 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in a match of the victory of Byu on VCU in the first round.

“Cougar Nation is a large part of whom I am now. … This place is full of intelligent people and dedicated people … trying to improve, on the field and out of the field.”

– Guard byu Egor Demin

Among the latest projections of simulated draft, Bleacher Report puts him 14th in the general classification at the Dallas Mavericks, Sports Illustrated takes him 16th in the San Antonio Spurs, Yahoo Sports makes him spend 17th at Brooklyn Nets and USA TODAY did 21st to Jazz Utah.

“First of all, I want to say thank you to (byu) President (Shane) Reese, for such a good environment here, and an incredible university and place to be as anhlete, or as a student. As this place took me heat, when I have just arrived here, it’s incredible,” said Demin.

“Thank you very much to our sports directors, Brian Santiago, Tom Holmoe, for such a great opportunity for me and just a chance to be here and a chance to be part of a big Byu family. They believed in me and they trusted me when I was not really known by anyone, coming from Russia as a child.”