Eric Demers ’20

In the Scotlight

Eric Demers ’20

As a child, Eric Demers arrived at TD Garden early to watch the Boston Celtics warm up before games. Last summer playing for San Antonio Spurs’ 2021 NBA Summer League squad, Demers saw the faces of enthralled children there early to see him.

“It was a flashback to being a little kid dreaming of something like this,” he says.

And now he takes the court as a pro with the Maine Celtics, an NBA G League team. While most NBA players come from NCAA Division I and II backgrounds, Demers says his Gordon career provided distinct advantages. Ample playing time developed Demers’ skills; becoming a Division III standout garnered national recognition; and close relationships developed him both as an athlete and as a person.

Those connections carry over into his latest endeavors even beyond basketball. Teammates stood beside him as he married Lauren (Edwards) Demers ’20 and traveled to watch him play in the NBA Summer League. “I try to remind myself that at the end of the day, the hoop is the same height, the basketball is the same, and I’ve been doing this for a very long time,” he says. “I’m trying to believe in myself that I am ready and embracing the opportunity.”