2024 NBA Draft: A Conversation with Silas Demary Jr.
Silas Demary Jr. is a 6-foot-4 guard and and upcoming freshman at the University of Georgia this season. The No. 103 overall recruit had offers from Alabama, USC, Saint John's, Wake Forest, Tennessee, and NC State, but ultimately decided to go the Georgia. "It was the right situation as a freshman and the relationship they built with my family and I [led to my decision]", said Demary Jr. during an interview with Draft Digest.
Demary Jr. grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is the same area where Rodney Purvis, John Wall, and PJ Tucker were also raised. Professional basketball players from the area used to come back and talk, serving as early inspiration for Demary Jr. growing up.
Sports always came natural to Demary Jr.
"I was one of those kids that tried every sport growing up. The older I got, football and basketball became the main two I focused on. My mom and dad really put those sports in my hands," he said.
Football is something that's close to home for the Demary family, as his father Silas Demary Sr. played defensive line professionally in the AFL. Demary Jr.'s football background impacts the way he takes pride in the defensive side of the ball in basketball.
"Coming from playing football," he told Draft Digest. "I played defensive back so I always wanted to get a stop. At my size, I'm grateful to have great hips the way I can turn and stay with smaller guards. Defense to me gets me going early in the game. Getting something in the passing lane, rotating and getting stops gets the team going. Stops lead to transition offense as well and can shift momentum."
High School
Demary Jr. played at Liberty Heights high school during the 2021-22 season under Coach Mike Wright, who he followed to Combine Academy the following year. When I asked him about what his experience and mindset was like at Liberty Heights, Demary Jr. stated
"My mindset going to Liberty Heights was understanding that I was entering a new environment, a new chapter, and that I'm going to be around guys that are older than me. This prepared me to use and trust my voice and taught me how to be a vocal leader at a young age. This also helped prepare me to be a leader at Combine and help teach the younger guys at Combine to be leaders themselves," said the incoming freshman.
After his junior year at Liberty Heights, Demary Jr. followed the well-accomplished Coach Michael Wright to Combine Academy. Here he played alongside talented players like Trentyn Flowers, Rakease Passmore, and Collin Tanner. When I asked Demary Jr. what he learned both on and off the court during his experience at Combine Academy, he gave great insight.
"As a student, I learned how to adjust to the schedule like college is," he said. "We would wake up, have a practice session early, then class from 9-11 AM. Then we could go to the gym before practice or chill before practice. It's similar to Georgia in that way and it was a taste of what a college schedule is like before Georgia. Combine was small but being around kids from overseas and their work ethic and building relationships with them was really fun."
Things went smoothly most of the season at Combine Academy as they finished with a 36-5 record, but at one point the team had recently lost to the star-studded Camden high school. However, without missing a beat, Combine defeated a very talented AZ Compass Prep squad in their very next game.
"We were talking to some of our guys on the ride back and we talked about how we can't be down, we can't think about the rankings, or worry about our confidence," Demary Jr. said when thinking back on that moment. "We're going to be good, we can prove to everybody we're still one of the best teams in the country and we can still beat this team. We shouldn't look at names, we can't focus on who's on what team, and it was important to instill confidence in our guys."
University of Georgia
Demary Jr. is a talented 6-foot-4 guard capable of creating rim pressure and creating opportunities for teammates. His goals at Georgia for this upcoming season reflect this team-first mentality.
"I have goals. I do team goals before individual goals. If the team is winning, then those individual goals are more likely to happen," he told Draft Digest. "We're trying to be a 20-win team this year and win the SEC. At the end of the season, we want to make the tournament, make a deep a run, and turn this program around like Georgia football did."
In fact, when I asked Demary Jr. what he feels his immediate strengths he can provide to Georgia are, he talked about the various ways he thinks he can impact the game at the college level.
"What I can provide is a paint-touch guard who's going to get his bigs touches, shooters touches, and get everyone involved. I feel like I can score on all three levels and have a pull-up game. My strengths to me, though, are using my voice and playing at a fast pace. Getting people open shots and getting a paint-touch," he said.
Additionally, since the season ended, Demary Jr. has been in the gym and has been working on improving off the bounce, catch-and-shoot, and three-point percentage.
"At times I'll turn down shots and I'm a good shooter," said the underrated prospect. "Sometimes I'll turn down a good shot for a great one, but it's important to take and make those good shots consistently. It's something I've seen progress on during practice already."
Lastly, off the court at Georgia, Demary Jr. is a friendly guy, looking to make the most of his experience at the university.
"I try to meet as many people as possible because you never know what it can turn into. I talk to our janitors and always ask how they're doing. I try to build as many relationships as possible," he said.
Q&A Portion
NBA Comparisons
1. Is there an NBA player that you would compare yourself to, in terms of what you believe you can provide to an NBA team from the jump?
"I like looking at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I look at his role on the Clippers. He played that PG role, did what the team needed and earned his stripes. Then he got traded and could be a focal point and team leader and showcase his full ability."
2. Who is an NBA player (either current or former) that you feel you can grow into?
"I feel like I've looked a lot at Malcolm Brogdon and Tyrese Maxey. Brogdon keeps everything simple and is efficient. Maxey can create off of ball screens, can create for others, play off pindowns, and also play off-the-ball."
Silas Demary Jr.'s Inspiration Off the Court
1. Take me outside of basketball for a minute. What do you like to do in your free time at home?
"I like to play 2k or Madden. I like to be with my friends from back home -- four or five of us. You can catch me at a shoe store or at home playing video games."
2. Favorite artists or songs you listen to before a game
"For me, I tend to listen to R&B and slow jams. A song I do listen to is Window Seat by Erykah Badu. It helps me relax my nerves and my body right before a game."
3. Who are some people who have greatly impacted you throughout your life that helped you gt to where you are today?
"I would definitely say my parents, my high school coach Michael Wright, and my two trainers that's always been with me: Anthony Simons and Marcus Hodges. I've been working out with Anthony since first grade and he's been helping to build me up as an athlete, and Marcus puts icing on the cake, woring out with pros, ball-handling, etc."
4. What are some meaningful experiences that have impacted your life and help motivate you as a basketball player?
"Definitely [NBPA] Top 100 Camp. That camp showed me I could play with the best of the best. I saw that if some of these guys are NBA prospects, then I felt I could be an NBA prospect as well."
5. What was the best piece of advice anyone has given you about playing basketball or life in general?
"Comparison can be your biggest downfall. Comparing what's going on in your life to what others have can stress you out, make you play below what you believe you can, trusting my process. What's for me is what's for me. I can't ask to say "I wish I had that." God's blessing me with what he wants my blessing to be."
6. Anything else you want to add?
"Shoutout to my mom and dad. Shoutout my two sisters and my Grandma as well."
Be on the lookout for Demary Jr. to be a standout guard in the SEC this upcoming season. Check out my scouting report on him and his former teammate Rakease Passmore here.
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