Getting Cocky: Gamecocks' Collin Murray-Boyles Beginning to Make Some Noise in Draft Circles

South Carolina, one of college basketball's pleasant surprises this season, has reached its current status as a team two games back from the top of the SEC rankings through consistent contributions by several different players.

Guys like BJ Mack, Meechie Johnson, Ta'Lon Cooper, and the object of the piece, Collin Murray-Boyles, have been outstanding this year despite the less-than-glowing preseason expectations.

Under LaMont Paris, the Gamecocks sport an impressive 21-5, though they have lost two straight after nearly cracking the top 10 of the AP Poll, peaking at 11 last week. 

The star of South Carolina from a draft perspective was and has been Collin Murray-Boyles, who was frankly outstanding in the first half of the Feb. 17 home loss against LSU. 

Through the first 20 minutes, he went for eight points on 4-for-7 from the field, recorded four boards, and generally played active defense and made things difficult for opponents.

While the numbers are good for 10 minutes of time on the court, they don't entirely pop off the page. What does pop, however, is watching the versatility and confidence with which Murray-Boyles can score inside the arc. 

There were several different instances of his getting to the basket with his handle, cutting without the ball to set himself up under the hoop, using off-ball screens to navigate and find holes in the pressure, and finishing at the rim. 

Standing at around 6-foot-7, Murray-Boyles has the numbers of a physically bigger forward, a guy that uses physicality to both attack the glass as well as finish through contact while trying to score. 

He also possesses quick feet, translating to effective post moves when fed in the paint, demonstrating so against LSU on Feb. 17 with a couple of tight spins inside leading to buckets.