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“Championship” presents a series of materials dedicated to Russian basketball player Yegor Demin. The talented athlete previously defended the colors of the Real Madrid youth team, taking part in a variety of tournaments, from the Spanish Championship to the Euroleague and other international competitions. Now Egor has taken his talent abroad and will play at the prestigious American Brigham Young University (BYU). We look forward to following his rise to the top of the NBA!
The university’s basketball program is renowned for its high level. Last season, the team shined in one of the strongest conferences in the NCAA – the Big 12. Located in Provo, Utah, the university attracts the attention of national television channels and took an honorable fifth place among 14 conference participants. This allowed them to qualify for the prestigious March Madness college basketball tournament, but, unfortunately, the team finished its performance in the first round.
“We understood that we needed to look for alternative options and then make a final decision. First of all, Real Madrid is a club that only counts on results. And strategically, it needs ready players. Luka Doncic is a glaring exception to the rule. His brilliant career began with a game in Moscow against CSKA in 2016, in which he scored 12 points. Then, due to injuries, Real Madrid was missing several players in the back line.
Egor Demin
Photo: From Yegor Demin’s personal archive.
“It is clear that true talent will find opportunities for development everywhere and will be realized. We did not want to rely on luck or chance, we planned Yegor’s preparation with the goal in mind. And we understand that the most important thing for this is playing time and the right role in the team. I am sure that he is ready to play at a professional level starting this season, but it is difficult to count on big minutes and an important role on a consistent basis in a good European club, especially at Real Madrid,” Vladimir Demin, Yegor’s father, told the official website of the Russian Basketball Federation.
In the spring, reports began to appear that NCAA teams were interested in Yegor. Many major American universities tried to recruit the Russian basketball player into their ranks, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, and even Duke, where one of the main contenders for the first pick of the 2025 draft, Cooper Flagg, will play next season. However, the Demin family seriously considered only two options: Arkansas and BYU.
The Arkansas basketball team was led by legendary coach John Calipari, who previously led Kentucky for 15 years, won the championship in 2012 and reached the Final Four three times. Under his leadership, many players trained for the NBA. This could be an excellent option for Yegor, but opinions on this matter differ. For Calipari, Arkansas represents a new stage in his career, and in the near future the team will be formed specifically for him. In a conversation with Yegor’s father, he assured: “I will make Yegor a star!” However, the question remained whether the old-school coach would be able to find a way to get closer to Yegor and give him a suitable role in the team.
Kevin young
BYU head coach
“We are thrilled to have Egor and his family join us at BYU. He is a special talent with an extremely bright future and plays basketball the right way. Standing at 206cm, his passing, chance creation and shooting will fit perfectly into our style of play. Egor has established himself as one of the top basketball prospects in Europe in recent years. We look forward to helping him grow and develop on and off the court.”
Brigham Young University made it clear that Egor’s development is a priority for their team. BYU scouts traveled to Spain twice to interact personally with Real Madrid coaches and watch the talented point guard play. Thanks to this, when negotiations began, they had all the necessary information about Demin.
One of the important factors in choosing to pursue a career at Brigham Young University can be considered the head coach of the basketball team, Kevin Young. He has worked in the NBA for the past eight years and in June 2023, when he signed a new contract with Phoenix, he became the highest-paid assistant coach in the league. Last spring, Kevin interviewed for a head coaching position in the NBA, but decided to lead BYU for personal reasons.
Mocking project with Egor Demin
Photo: “Championship”
18-year-old Egor became a key figure in the success of Real Madrid, which won the Junior Euroleague title twice in a row. In the 2024 final, he showed a brilliant performance, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, becoming the most productive basketball player in the match. His passion for the game and extraordinary talent are noticeable at first glance, something that even foreign journalists from major sports publications notice. It is unusual to see a youngster in the top 10 of his draft class even before the official NCAA season starts, but Egor deserves his place.
Egor made a wise decision by transferring to BYU. He made a bet on basketball, which is certainly a reason for joy. It is especially important to prove oneself at the initial stage, and the opportunity to do so under the guidance of a coach with extensive experience is a double advantage. “Championship” will closely follow the development of Demin’s career, from his first steps in the NCAA to his debut in the NBA.
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