The BYU Cougars are preparing to face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night. They would not be here without the play of talented freshman Egor Demin.
Egor Demin’s Background
A member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team, Demin has proven to be a quality player in Provo this season.
Standing at 6’9″, the Moscow native can be a nightmare matchup for any opposing defender. He is averaging 10.5 points per game this year, along with 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds.
Perhaps he gained his basketball skills from his father, Vladimir, who played professionally in Russia. Growing up, Demin would be sent to the Moscow Basketball Academy where he continued to improve his skills until the age of 15.
He would eventually sign with Real Madrid B and make a great impact on the team in multiple tournaments as his father, along with his mother, Natalia, would look on.
After the 2023-2024 season, he was inspired to play in the United States and is known as the first-ever five-star recruit to play for the program.
BYU’s Incredible Season
Partially thanks to Demin’s play, the Cougars are still playing meaningful games.
After posting an overall record of 24-9 (14-6 in the Big 12), the Cougars earned themselves a six seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their key wins over teams such as Arizona, Kansas, and Iowa State helped prepare them for where they are now.
With wins over VCU and Wisconsin in the first couple of rounds, the Cougars are now set up to face a very talented Alabama Crimson Tide team. Not only will it be up to Demin to produce, but it will also be up to forward Richie Saunders, guard Trevin Knell, and big man Keba Keita.
KEEP READING: How BYU Can Use the Transfer Portal To Build on Their Sweet 16 Success
The supporting cast is going to have to find a way to match the explosion that point guard Mark Sears and the Crimson Tide can create at any point. All eyes will be on the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as these teams will meet with everything hanging in the balance.
With the type of players that each team possesses, college basketball fans should look for a high-scoring game between these teams as they don’t want their seasons to end.
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