BROOKLYN, N.Y. – All-SEC sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles will attend the NBA Draft as one of 24 green room invitees on Wednesday. The Columbia, S.C. native becomes the first player in program history to receive a green room invite in the modern draft era.

The NBA Draft will take place at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, and will be televised live starting at 8 p.m. (ET) on ABC/ESPN.

No South Carolina players have been selected in the lottery in the modern NBA Draft format (started in 1985).

Murray-Boyles is seeking to become the 39th player drafted in program history drafted. He would be the second player drafted under head coach Lamont Paris. Gregory “GG” Jackson II was selected 45th overall by Memphis in the second round in 2023. He would go on to earn 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Murray-Boyles enjoyed a stellar season for the Gamecocks in 2024-25, averaging 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He started all 32 games and had a career-best 11, 20-point games and nine double-doubles en route to earning Second Team All-SEC honors and First Team NABC All-South Atlantic District distinction. He led the team in points (538), rebounds (264), steals (47) and blocks (43) and was second in assists (77).

Murray-Boyles was the first Gamecock since Jimmy Foster in 1983-84 (18.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg) to average at least 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Murray-Boyles was an efficient 58.6% (198-of-338) from the floor which led the SEC and ranked 21st nationally. He had five games this season with 10 or more makes from the floor, becoming the first Gamecock to accomplish the feat since Devan Downey did it nine times in 2009-10. Murray-Boyles had a stretch of four-straight games with 20 or more points the final month of the season (first Gamecock to do that since All-SEC guard AJ Lawson in 2021) highlighted by a career-high 35 points in a 72-53 win over Arkansas on March 1 at Colonial Life Arena.

In Power Five leagues (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten & SEC), Murray-Boyles and Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson were the only players to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting above 50.0%.

As a freshman in 2023-24, Murray-Boyles averaged 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds (led team), 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 59.7% (117-of-196) from the floor (fourth-best single-season field goal percentage in program history). He earned Freshman All-SEC honors and helped the team to a 26-8 overall record and a 13-5 mark in SEC action, good for a T-2nd finish in the league. The Gamecocks tied the program record for single-season wins and made the team’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017.

Murray-Boyles finishes his Gamecock career averaging 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in 60 career appearances in Garnet and Black. His career field goal percentage of 59.0% (315-of-534) is No. 2 all-time behind only Foster (shot 59.6% from 1981-84).

Renaldo Balkman was the last Gamecock drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks 20th overall in 2006. Seven South Carolina players total have been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft with Tom Riker the highest pick, selected eighth overall by the New York Knicks in 1972.

2025 NBA Draft Green Room Attendees
Cooper Flagg (Duke)

Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

V.J. Edgecombe (Baylor)

Tre Johnson (Texas)

Khaman Maluach (Duke)

Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

Kon Knueppel (Duke)

Noa Essengue (France)

Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

Egor Demin (BYU)

Carter Bryant (Arizona)

Derik Queen (Maryland)

Asa Newell (Georgia)

Joan Beringer (Cedevita Olimpija)

Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)

Liam McNeeley (UConn)

Will Riley (Illinois)

Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

Danny Wolf (Michigan)

Nolan Traore (France)

Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

Walter Clayton (Florida)

Cedric Coward (Washington State)

South Carolina Men’s Basketball NBA Draft History

YEAR
ROUND
PICK
PLAYER
TEAM
DRAFT TRADES

2023
2
45
Gregory “GG” Jackson II
Memphis Grizzlies

2017
2
48
Sindarius Thornwell
Milwaukee Bucks
MIL to LAC

2006
1
20
Renaldo Balkman
New York Knicks

1998
2
48
Ryan Stack
Cleveland Cavaliers

1994
2
47
Jamie Watson
Utah Jazz

1987
7
144
Michael Foster
Cleveland Cavaliers

1986
7
140
Duane Kendall
New York Knicks

1985
2
29
Mike Brittain
San Antonio Spurs

1984
5
102
Jim Foster
Kansas City Kings

1984
8
182
Brad Jergenson
Milwaukee Bucks

1981
3
51
Zam Fredrick
Los Angeles Lakers

1980
5
110
Mike Doyle
Atlanta Hawks

1980
9
184
Jim Graziano
Denver Nuggets

1979
3
49
Cedrick Hordges
Chicago Bulls
CHI to DEN

1979
7
135
Jim Strickland
New Jersey Nets

1978
6
111
Golie Augustus
New Jersey Nets

1978
7
148
Jack Gilloon
Denver Nuggets

1977
5
101
Nate Davis
Chicago Bulls

1976
2
23
Alex English
Milwaukee Bucks

1976
6
99
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Philadelphia Sixers

1975
1
17
Tom Boswell
Boston Celtics

1974
1
12
Brian Winters
Los Angeles Lakers

1973
1
11
Kevin Joyce
Golden State Warriors

1973
5
82
Danny Traylor
Washington Wizards

1972
1
8
Tom Riker
New York Knicks

1971
1
14
John Roche
Phoenix Suns
PHX to LAL

1971
4
58
Tom Owens
Houston Rockets

1971
8
129
John Ribock
Boston Celtics

1968
1
8
Gary Gregor
Phoenix Suns

1968
1
13
Skip Harlicka
St. Louis Hawks

1968
3
33
Jack Thompson
Washington Wizards

1968
13
169
Frank Standard
St. Louis Hawks

1967
4
32
Al Salvadori
Washington Wizards

1967
13
134
Lyn Burkholder
Washington Wizards

1965
8
67
Jim Fox
Cincinnati Royals

1962
5
42
Art Whisnant
Los Angeles Lakers

1957
5
40
Grady Wallace
Boston Celtics

1951
4
32
Jim Slaughter
Tri-Cities Blackhawks
MIL to BAL

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