The Portland Trail Blazers could add significant size and versatility to their backcourt in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. Multiple draft analysts now project BYU’s Russian freshman standout Egor Demin to land with Portland at the 11th overall pick.
His draft stock surged following an impressive performance at the NBA Draft Combine and subsequent pro day workouts.
ESPN Highlights Demin’s “Undeniable Talent” at 11th Overall
ESPN’s latest mock draft has the Trail Blazers selecting the 6’9½” guard at pick number 11, with draft analyst Jonathan Givony noting Demin’s exceptional showing in Chicago.
“Demin had a positive week at the combine in Chicago, measuring bigger than expected at 6-9½ in shoes and then putting on one of the most impressive pro day performances we’ve seen in some time, causing even the most skeptical of NBA evaluators to acknowledge his undeniable talent” Givony reported.
Opportunity Favors The Prepared.
An inside look to Egor Demin’s unforgettable BDAI Pro Day with coach @ZGonzales93 in Chicago. @whoisegor3 pic.twitter.com/ipKGL1Et9m
— BDAI (@BDAISports) May 20, 2025
The evaluation doesn’t stop there, as Givony highlighted Demin’s physical development and shooting mechanics despite underwhelming college numbers.
“Demin has made significant gains with his body and will continue to fill out, while making a barrage of 3-pointers with picture-perfect mechanics and a lightning-quick release that offered significant room for optimism despite hitting 27% of his 3-pointers in his lone season at BYU. Also, NBA teams raved about his interviews in Chicago.”
Givony concluded that Demin’s versatility could be particularly valuable for Portland “The Trail Blazers can go in several directions with this pick, and adding a big guard with a strong feel for the game who can slide into different roster configurations could be interesting long term.”
Demin Perfect Fit for Blazers’ Young Core
What makes Demin such an intriguing prospect is his unique combination of size and elite playmaking ability. Despite his 6’9½” frame, Demin primarily played point guard at BYU, where he set a freshman record with 5.5 assists per game (180 total) while demonstrating advanced court vision and passing touch that scouts consider among the best in the entire draft class.
His athletic testing at the combine further cemented his rising status. Demin posted solid agility numbers with a lane agility time of 11.31 seconds and a shuttle run of 2.93 seconds. His 32-inch max vertical leap showcases adequate explosiveness for a player of his size, while his 8’9½” standing reach allows him to see over defenses and make advanced reads.
The biggest question mark in Demin’s game remains his shooting consistency. Though he struggled from beyond the arc in college (27.3%), his shooting display at the NBA Combine has created significant optimism about his development potential.
For the Blazers, Demin’s versatility offers fascinating lineup possibilities alongside their current young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe. His size would allow Portland to deploy multi-guard lineups without sacrificing defensive length, while his playmaking could take pressure off Henderson as the sole creator.
If his improved shooting translates to the NBA level, Demin could become the perfect complementary piece to bridge the backcourt and frontcourt in Portland’s rebuilding efforts.
KEEP READING: 2025 NBA Draft Watch: 5 College Basketball Stars Who Could Go Undrafted, Including PJ Haggerty
While ESPN projects Demin to Portland at pick 11, other mock drafts present different scenarios. CSN’s latest mock has Maryland forward Derik Queen landing with the Blazers. Portland’s lottery selection will be a crucial addition to their developing young core regardless of which direction they choose.
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