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Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette gives a thumbs up to fans during a timeout as BYU and Utah play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. BYU won 75-66. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jimmer Fredette calls it like he sees it — and he sees BYU’s signing of Russian star Egor Demin as a sign of the times.
“It’s a massive deal. It really is,” Fredette told the “Y’s Guys” podcast just hours after BYU announced Demin had been cleared by the NCAA and was an official member of Kevin Young’s first roster as the Cougars’ head coach.
“It just shows coach Young’s reach and shows that BYU is a viable option for top-10 lottery projected picks coming into their first year of college, the actual one-and-done player,” he said. “That’s what (Demin) could be and because of that, you have guys that are looking at us differently. They are saying ‘Oh, wow, this kid is going to BYU?’ Then that’s a viable option (for them) because we know he is going to be an NBA talent.”
Demin is expected in Provo on Thursday. The Moscow native spent the last three academic years playing in Real Madrid’s Under-18 program in Spain. ESPN projects him as the No. 9 lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft.
The 6-foot-9 freshman won’t turn 18 until next March when the Cougars complete their second season in the Big 12 and just ahead of what they hope will be a back-to-back appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Fredette arrived at BYU to little fanfare and even less expectations, however, by the time he entered the NBA, those circumstances were just the opposite. Demin won’t have the luxury of being a pleasant surprise and Fredette doesn’t think that will be a problem for him.
“First of all, he’s been playing professionally with Real Madrid, which is one of the best, if not the best, clubs in Europe. It wasn’t their top-level team, but those expectations to be able to perform at a high level on those types of teams are really, really high,” said…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jimmer-fredette-explains-why-egor-175029649.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-06-18 17:50:29
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