The 6-foot-9 point guard will likely be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Could the Jazz target him at No. 21?<\/p>\n
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU basketball player Egor Demin arrives for the announcement of his plans to enter the NBA Draft, where he would likely be a first-round pick in June, during a news event in Provo on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0| May 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
Egor Demin set Chicago ablaze this week as he torched the nets from three. <\/p>\n
Now, BYU\u2019s first NBA prospect since 2011 is wondering if his draft stock will catch fire, too.<\/p>\n
Demin, a native of Moscow, Russia, surprised scouts by knocking down 16 straight threes at the NBA Draft Combine. Demin\u2019s blend of size and passing ability always put him on NBA draft radars<\/a>. But the shooting \u2014 where he shot 27% from three \u2014 held him back from being a no-brainer lottery pick. <\/a><\/p>\n But if he convinces teams he can shoot, will that change the dynamic?<\/p>\n \u201cThe main questions that scouts [had for] me [were] as a shooter. That was a goal for me to shoot well, show them that I\u2019m a capable shooter,\u201d Demin said. <\/p>\n Mission accomplished, for now. <\/p>\n But what that means for draft day still remains to be seen.<\/p>\n Demin is projected anywhere from No. 12 to 22. ESPN has Chicago taking him at 12 and CBS has him off the board to Minnesota at 17. There is still a looming possibility, though, he could wind back up in Utah if the Jazz decide to pounce. <\/p>\n Utah owns the fifth and 21st picks in the first round. It\u2019s extremely unlikely the Jazz would consider him at five, but Demin could be available later in the first round if the Jazz want to make a move.<\/p>\n Demin has a relationship with Jazz decision makers Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge, both BYU alums<\/a>. Ainge often attends BYU games as a former player, whose jersey is retired at the Marriott Center. <\/p>\n \u201cThey were at the games a lot of times. So obviously, I\u2019ve met them. And, I mean, they\u2019re legends of BYU,\u201d Demin said. <\/p>\n