Brooklyn Nets select Egor Demin with No. 8 pick, marking BYU's highest draft selection in 21 years

It wasn't a long wait for Russian point guard Egor Demin.

With the No. 8 pick in the first round of the NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets selected the 6-foot-9 point guard, making him the highest BYU draft pick since 2004.

Before Wednesday night's draft in Brooklyn, N.Y., Demin was slotted to go anywhere between No. 8 and No. 20, a wide range between the two picks and the difference of a few million dollars.

Tabbed as the best passer in the draft, Demin's elite vision and playmaking ability was too good to overlook for Brooklyn at pick No. 8.

In his freshman season, Demin averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game at BYU. His biggest flaw was his poor shooting, only making 27.3% of his 3-point shots.

"Demin is the Three-Eyed Raven of this draft — he sees everything at all times," wrote J. Kyle Mann, draft analyst for the Ringer. "He is the most talented all-around passer in the draft."

The Nets failed to make the playoffs last season, and don't seem to have a go-to player that they are building around. This draft proves to be a pivotal one for the rebuilding franchise, as they still have four more first-round picks to select after Demin.

Demin is the first draft pick from BYU since Jimmer Fredette was selected 10th overall in 2011, and he will be the first Cougar to touch an NBA court since 2021, when Elijah Bryant was on the bench of Milwaukee's championship winning roster.