Mock Draft Buzz: Where Do Experts Place BYU’s NBA Prospects?

Let’s take a closer look at the prospects of BYU players in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Richie Saunders could sneak into the draft picture with continued excellence.

Despite a recent home loss to Arizona, BYU basketball still offers fans plenty of reasons to stay optimistic about the future of the program. A key reason for this excitement is the growing attention surrounding the Cougars’ NBA prospects, with Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings coming to Provo specifically to prepare for the next phase of their careers.

With varying degrees of success, the Cougars are likely to have at least one player selected in this draft, with Demin still being considered a lottery pick despite a few inconsistent performances.

Demin, the Moscow native who recently played for Real Madrid’s U18 team before moving to Provo, is steadily improving and has delivered some of his best performances during the past four games with the Cougars.

Kanon Catchings, while his stock has dipped since the start of the season, had a breakout performance against Baylor, scoring 23 points on perfect shooting splits, reminding scouts of his potential.

But beyond those two, other Cougars are beginning to draw attention from NBA scouts, as Richie Saunders makes a case as one of the hardest-working players in college basketball, and even players like Keba Keita continue to make impressive plays, sparking imaginations about their potential at the pro level.

Looking at recent mock drafts and projections, let’s assess where the NBA stands on the Cougars’ prospects.

**BYU Basketball Players in NBA Mock Drafts**

Egor Demin

CBS: 13th

Sports Illustrated: 20th

Tankathon: 8th

NBADraft.net: 13th

Bleacher Report: 17th

NBA Draft Room: 7th

Kanon Catchings

Sports Illustrated: 21st

After scouring the internet, it appears Sports Illustrated may be slightly misinformed.

Did not appear: Richie Saunders, Keba Keita

The NBA draft landscape is unpredictable, which is clear when you consider the wide variety of potential destinations for Demin.