“Demin has Russian DNA, which I realized when I played in Russia” – ex-basketball player Hansen

Former basketball player of Dynamo Moscow and Khimki near Moscow Travis Hansen said that 18-year-old player of the Brigham Young University (BYU) team Egor Demin has such characteristic Russian traits as courage and bravery.

In November 2024, Demin was named the Big 12 NCAA Rookie of the Week twice in a row.

“Egor started coming to visit us as soon as he moved here. This is an opportunity for him to communicate with us, and for us to feed him. After dinner he cleans up. This is his responsibility. My wife cooks and we clean. Egor had a good influence on my children. Last Sunday we talked a lot about Russia and how much we miss it. We have pleasant memories of her. Egor misses all this too.

My experience shows that European clubs, especially top clubs like Real Madrid, are the best in the world at preparing young talent for a professional career. Yegor has Russian DNA, which I realized when I played in Russia, Russians are courageous and brave. They are fighters. They want to do good, despite current political events. Being fighters is in their DNA. Egor loves to compete. He grew up playing in Europe. These are not even clubs, but countries opposing countries. The pressure, anxiety and struggle that comes with it is on a whole other level, it’s not university versus university.

I think he’s going to compete for high spots in the draft. Show me an NBA team that couldn’t use a point guard. He is an attack in himself. It’s structured differently. This guy’s DNA is to be a professional,” Desert.com quotes Hansen as saying.

Next year Demin will enter the NBA draft. The Russian is expected to be selected among the first 14 players.