Collin Murray-Boyles led a horrible South Carolina Gamecocks team this season, and he’s done with college ball.
This season, the South Carolina Gamecocks went only 12-20, although someone had to lose games in a loaded SEC. Despite their lackluster season, star Collin Murray-Boyles broke out and is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Murray-Boyles plays a bit of an old-school game reliant on getting to the rim and dribble-drives, but no one in the NCAA was better at it than he was. He led the SEC with a 58.6% mark from the floor and uses his strength to play bully ball, even against larger opponents.
Still, there are very real concerns surrounding him, and he is not expected to be a sure thing like some other players in the draft class. Here’s everything fans need to know.
Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesCollin Murray-Boyles key factsAge/Date of Birth: 19 (June 10, 2005)Nationality: AmericanHeight/weight: 6-foot-7, 231lbsCollege: South Carolina GamecocksSophomore season stats: 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 2.4 turnovers, 58.6 FG%, 26.5 3PT%NCAA Tournament stats (2024): 6.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 40 FG%Career highs: 35 points (vs. Arkansas), 16 rebounds (vs. South Carolina State), 8 assists (vs. Florida)NBA comparison: Paul Millsap
Collin Murray-Boyles’ strengths
Murray-Boyles is not the best athlete, but he has the strength to guard bigger positions and the wingspan to make life tough for quicker, smaller players. The team that drafts him will be hoping he can become a fixture of All-Defensive teams for several seasons.
He has quick reactions and very good court vision, which will translate on both ends of the floor. His passing, despite his high turnover numbers, is rather quite good, and he could be a connector at the higher level, especially when he’s surrounded by more capable teammates.
He can score and rebound inside with the best of them, and even though he is not an explosive athlete, he can get to the rim and create just enough space to get a shot off at the rim. Longer defenders like Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama will give him trouble, but they give everyone trouble. Against more average centers, he should have no problem scoring down low.
He can handle the ball fairly well for a player of his size, especially with a full head of steam, and has the ability to score that way or kick the ball out if a help defender leaves his man.
Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesCollin Murray-Boyles’ weaknesses
In the modern NBA, the true power forward is no longer a position. Wings have replaced the forward, and Murray-Boyles doesn’t have the outside shot to be a true wing. He could be a small-ball center, but his rim protection leaves a lot to be desired, especially for an otherwise high-level defender.
He is a little too short to be a true center, which means he will have to play next to a floor-spacing big, at least in an ideal world.
His free-throw percentage of 69.5% in college doesn’t bode well for an improved shot, and for a player who takes so much contact, points will be left on the board unless he can knock down shots at a more consistent clip from the charity stripe.
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesCollin Murray-Boyles’ best NBA fits
As touched on earlier, he will need to play next to a floor-spacing center. The San Antonio Spurs would be a good fit, but they already have Jeremy Sochan as a non-shooting forward, and De’Aaron Fox isn’t exactly a knockdown shooter, either.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, with Chet Holmgren, is a great fit, and he could still be on the board when the Los Angeles Clippers are called up to the board, with their pick conveying to OKC.
If Alexandre Sarr can continue to improve his outside shot, the Washington Wizards wouldn’t be a bad spot for him, either, although Washington has its sights set on Cooper Flagg. With John Collins and Lauri Markkanen in Utah, the Jazz would be a good fit, too, although Utah is also hoping to pick in the top three.