RICHMOND, Ky. – Aric Demings, the 2026 Gulf South Conference Newcomer of the Year and a former Western Athletic Conference (WAC) All-Freshman Team member, has signed to play basketball at Eastern Kentucky University.
 
In 2025-26, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals at the University of West Florida.  He shot 49% from the field and 46% from 3-point range (38-of-82).  Demings earned GSC Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-GSC honors while helping the Argonauts to a 25-9 record, a conference tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.  He also earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District recognition.
 
"Aric is a veteran guard who has consistently produced and impacted winning across multiple programs," EKU Head Coach A.W. Hamilton said.  "He's earned all-conference honors, played in championship environments and proven himself at every stop in his career.  What stood out during his recruiting process was how focused he was on winning and finding the right culture to continue that standard.  That combination of experience, production and mindset is exactly what we want."
 
The DeSoto, Texas native scored a season-high 30 points against Trevecca Nazarene, sinking a season-best six 3-pointers along the way.  He posted a season-high eight rebounds against Auburn-Montgomery and seven assists against Mississippi College.
 
Demings spent the 2024-25 season at Monmouth, where he played in 25 games and averaged 1.8 points per contest.
 
As a freshman in 2023-24 at Utah Tech, Demings earned WAC All-Freshman honors after averaging 7.5 points, 2.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.  He scored a season-high 19 points at Texas-Arlington and handed out a season-best seven assists at Cal State Northridge.
 
Demings played at national powerhouse Duncanville High School where he helped the Panthers win three Texas Class 6A State Championships and two national titles.  The 2022-23 squad went 29-1 and claimed the USA Today national crown.  He earned first team all-district honors as a senior after averaging 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists.