2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 2

[ATLTimekeeper]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/01/06/byu-freshman-egor-demin-growing-pains/

Important to see how he adapts the rest of the year. I can't think of too many taller players in the NBA with that level of handle and passing ability in combination.

[BoyzNTheHood]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/01/06/byu-freshman-egor-demin-growing-pains/

Important to see how he adapts the rest of the year. I can't think of too many taller players in the NBA with that level of handle and passing ability in combination.

He’s made 3 shots over his last 3 games, 3/24! That’s so bad, it’s making me rethink some things.

[earthtone]

My current top 10 big board:

1) Cooper Flagg
2) Dylan Harper
3) Derik Queen
4) Kasparas Jakucionis
5) Jeremiah Fears
6) VJ Edgecombe
7) Thomas Sorber
8) Collin Murray-Boyles
9) Egor Demin
10) Boogie Fland

I've been saying since early in the season that I don't see this team finishing higher than 5th worst, and dropping worst case 4 spots from 5 would be to pick 9. So I probably won't be expanding the range of my big board beyond top 10 until I start looking more closely at SRP targets for the Portland pick.

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

[Jerry Lucas]

My current top 10 big board:

1) Cooper Flagg
2) Dylan Harper
3) Derik Queen
4) Kasparas Jakucionis
5) Jeremiah Fears
6) VJ Edgecombe
7) Thomas Sorber
8) Collin Murray-Boyles
9) Egor Demin
10) Boogie Fland

I've been saying since early in the season that I don't see this team finishing higher than 5th worst, and dropping worst case 4 spots from 5 would be to pick 9. So I probably won't be expanding the range of my big board beyond top 10 until I start looking more closely at SRP targets for the Portland pick.

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

I actually want to be high on Asa Newell (and was originally high on him earlier in the college season), but his low FTr is a pretty big red flag that keeps turning me away.

But other than that there's like no other flags, which is why I want to be high on him. But again, to be a big and your FTr is below 30%, that's a pretty significant red flag for me.

[Jstock12]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/01/06/byu-freshman-egor-demin-growing-pains/

Important to see how he adapts the rest of the year. I can't think of too many taller players in the NBA with that level of handle and passing ability in combination.

Demin would have faced the same increase in speed if he stayed in Europe and started competing against grown men. It's more about playing at a higher level and adjusting to that level that's bothering him. Previously Demin played either against his own age or even younger players at the junior level in Spain. And most of that competition was slower, less athletic and less long than guys in the NCAA. So it's a big contrast as an 18 year old, to go from competing against smaller less athletic 17-18 year olds, to now facing long and talented athletic 18-23 year old players in college. Some guys just manage the transition to higher level much better, while others struggle.

[earthtone]

My current top 10 big board:

1) Cooper Flagg
2) Dylan Harper
3) Derik Queen
4) Kasparas Jakucionis
5) Jeremiah Fears
6) VJ Edgecombe
7) Thomas Sorber
8) Collin Murray-Boyles
9) Egor Demin
10) Boogie Fland

I've been saying since early in the season that I don't see this team finishing higher than 5th worst, and dropping worst case 4 spots from 5 would be to pick 9. So I probably won't be expanding the range of my big board beyond top 10 until I start looking more closely at SRP targets for the Portland pick.

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

I actually want to be high on Asa Newell (and was originally high on him earlier on in the college season), but his low FTr is a pretty big red flag that keeps turning me away.

But other than that there's like no other flags, which is why I want to be high on him. But again, to be a big and your FTr is below 30%, that's a pretty significant red flag for me.

Just did a quick look up of all the bigs drafted with a FTr lower than 30%, and YIKES, that's not a good list to be a part of. Definitely going to be watching out for that ROS, I just view him pretty much exclusively as a 4 (which helps mitigate that a bit), and love the rest of his game enough to put that on the back burner for now.

Also makes a ton of sense why Ace isn't in your Top 10 if you place a lot of weight on the metrics, his red flags are waaaay harder to look past than Asa's. Don't know where he'll end up on my board, but he's a lot closer to 10 than 1 for now.

[ATLTimekeeper]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/01/06/byu-freshman-egor-demin-growing-pains/

Important to see how he adapts the rest of the year. I can't think of too many taller players in the NBA with that level of handle and passing ability in combination.

Demin would have faced the same increase in speed if he stayed in Europe and started competing against grown men. It's more about playing at a higher level and adjusting to that level that's bothering him. Previously Demin played either against his own age or even younger players at the junior level in Spain. And most of that competition was slower, less athletic and less long than guys in the NCAA. So it's a big contrast as an 18 year old, to go from competing against smaller less athletic 17-18 year olds, to now facing long and talented athletic 18-23 year old players in college. Some guys just manage the transition to higher level much better, while others struggle.

He's not in my top 10 right now but if he bounces back even a little scoring-wise than he's right back in there.

[RoteSchroder]

My current top 10 big board:

1) Cooper Flagg
2) Dylan Harper
3) Derik Queen
4) Kasparas Jakucionis
5) Jeremiah Fears
6) VJ Edgecombe
7) Thomas Sorber
8) Collin Murray-Boyles
9) Egor Demin
10) Boogie Fland

I've been saying since early in the season that I don't see this team finishing higher than 5th worst, and dropping worst case 4 spots from 5 would be to pick 9. So I probably won't be expanding the range of my big board beyond top 10 until I start looking more closely at SRP targets for the Portland pick.

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

Do you see him with elite offensive potential, elite defensive potential or just as a high level role player?

[Jstock12]

Some of these analytical models really seem to miss the mark at times.

Read on Twitter

[DKB333]

My current top 10 big board:

1) Cooper Flagg
2) Dylan Harper
3) Derik Queen
4) Kasparas Jakucionis
5) Jeremiah Fears
6) VJ Edgecombe
7) Thomas Sorber
8) Collin Murray-Boyles
9) Egor Demin
10) Boogie Fland

I've been saying since early in the season that I don't see this team finishing higher than 5th worst, and dropping worst case 4 spots from 5 would be to pick 9. So I probably won't be expanding the range of my big board beyond top 10 until I start looking more closely at SRP targets for the Portland pick.

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

Do you see him with elite offensive potential, elite defensive potential or just as a high level role player?

I thought Queen was fat and while a good college player like Lofton, Jr. does not the the physical attributes for the NBA. Also, where the hell is Bailey?

[TNRaps4life]

Some of these analytical models really seem to miss the mark at times.

Read on Twitter

A good GM also look at the eye test. If you follow analytics, you will draft most seniors in the first round. Projected future is key.

[RoteSchroder]

Some of these analytical models really seem to miss the mark at times.

Read on Twitter

Need to look at context. 3 Duke starters are in the top 50 overall. Four starters in the top 100. So BPR is likely skewed towards team performance.

Kon also has a smaller role and isn't the team's head honcho. If you give him the ball and tell him to run the offense as a lead guard, he'll struggle a lot more, efficiency will go down, TO's go up.

[hellrazor04]

Cooper Flagg just dunking on everyone vs Pitt

Read on Twitter

[TNRaps4life]

Cooper Flagg just dunking on everyone vs Pitt

Read on Twitter

#1 pick

[Psubs]

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

Do you see him with elite offensive potential, elite defensive potential or just as a high level role player?

I thought Queen was fat and while a good college player like Lofton, Jr. does not the the physical attributes for the NBA. Also, where the hell is Bailey?

Right. Even if people think that Bailey is just Rashard Lewis, he'd likely go no lower than #6. Also, no Tre Johnson.

[Syd-TK3]

Good game from Edgcombe

[Raptorfan2012]

IMO out of all the freshman bigs, Sorber has the most potential. Surprised he is not mocked in the top 10. Curious what his actual height is but he just turned 19 yet looks pretty strong and can score multiple ways.

[CoinTossRoss31]

Cooper Flagg just dunking on everyone vs Pitt

Read on Twitter

#1 pick

You add a player like Flagg to our core and suddenly you're looking like one of the top teams for prospects

[Ell Curry]

Vlad Goldin just has 36 for Michigan in a win over UCLA. He was bad to start the season (low usage, missing a ton of bunnies) but after a bad 4 games to start the year, he's been really, really good.

He's at about 13BPM before tonight in that 10 game stretch excusing his ugly start to the season (and he looked like he might have the flu or something, he was noticeably lacking in pop and missing tons more inside shots than he did last year, not sure what the deal was, or if it was just bad games clustered together and not to be thrown out as data). So after tonight's game, he will be like 14 BPM after tonight, which would be 2nd or 3rd in the country, way behind Johnni Broome but maybe ahead of literally everyone else.

You might remember him as the 7 foot Russian from FAU's final 4 run led by Johnell Davis.

Pros:
-Legit 7 foot
-Very good off-ball movement as a roller. Has found great chemistry with fellow 7 footer Danny Wolf running a 4/5 P+R because he cuts/rolls at good angles with good timing and gets open. Shooting 67% from the field last year and this year, with a harder schedule.
-Has steadily improved over his college career, every year
-Decent shot blocker, 2 a game, but not athletic enough to be getting a ton of weak side stuff.

Meh/Neutral:
-Shooting isn't terrible. Hits the odd 3 but never takes them, approaching 70% from the line after improving last year, hitting 44% of his long 2s. Might not be a non-shooter, so could take the odd 3 near the end of the shot clock.
-He has a decent little jump hook in the post, but he takes 3-4 dribble to get to it and tends not to catch it super deep on those, so maybe lacking in strength to do it. He won't be a post-up threat in the pros except on switches where he gets a guard down there I guess.
-Extremely European. Reads the game well, slow-ish feet, flops.

Cons:
-Slow feet, not a guy who can switch, and will he really deter NBA wings and bigs driving, or just guards?
-Soft at times, will try a finger roll or layup instead of a dunk
-Not a great defensive rebounder, it's Michigan's worst quality defensively by a mile, though they're 12th on D overall, so it's not like he hasn't anchored a good defence. He does a lot of good contesting of the first shot which gets missed, but he doesn't grab the board after it and the same guy Angel Reeses/Andre Drummonds it and gets a 2nd attempt.
-Michigan offence overall falls apart when Donaldson and Wolf sit, so he does need to be spoonfed by good passers it seems.

I don't think he's worth the PDX pick, but as an undrafted free agent 3rd center while Chomche is in the G-League, he's sort of intriguing because we've seen some Euro centers like Goga and even our own Poeltl carve out strong careers largely by being 7 feet tall and clever on O and having a good understanding of where to roll to and catch the ball and not think they're the next Dirk or whatever. There's more space in the NBA than college to find openings and catch the ball inside of 8 feet. I don't think he projects to be as good defensively or as a rebounder as them, so we're presumably not talking about a starting center here.

And he probably undrafted. He's not a great athlete, he's a 5th year senior. Might make sense for us because he would be a promising partner for Scottie running the odd P+R.

[Ell Curry]

Also, shout out to Danny Wolf! That kid is a baller!!

I watch every Michigan game. He's kinda got everything in his locker as a 4 (passer, shooting, dribbling), runs a mean 4/5 pick and roll, but his shot looks better than it actually seems to result in (maybe can be cleaned up? 36% from 3 and I'd guess most off the dribble, but only 60% from the line and only 71% last year).

He's been good defensively, but he's probably a bit too slow to be an NBA 4, and he's not really a 5. Basically Olynyk but a really good passer, much better dribbler too. So you would think he should have a future as a 3rd or 4th big along with a more athletic type of big alongside him. Like we'd have Poeltl and Barnes starting and Wolf, an athletic big drafted in 2026. If Mogbo can hit a corner 3 and we draft an rim-running Capela/DeAndre Jordan Center type next year, assuming there's one worth a first rounder available at our or Indiana's draft slot, that's a decent compliment of backup bigs who can do different things.

On the other hand, he probably makes more sense on a team with better perimeter defenders who could use a point forward type, like an OKC or Orlando (if Mo Wagner is let go for salary/injury reasons) or Boston (they have a late 1st and Wiz 2nd so 2 chances to grab him), so maybe he goes late first before the Portland 2nd we'd use to take him.