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Collin Murray-Boyles 2025 NBA Draft Profile

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Benjamin Yu | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 7:37 PM ET

There are plenty of talented one-and-done prospects in this year’s draft, however, there are just as many multi-year prospects as well. One sophomore who stands out from the class is South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles. Despite the strong chance of being drafted last year, Murray-Boyles returned to South Carolina and put together an incredible sophomore year. His unique combination of skill and strength at his size will make him a tantalizing prospect to draft for lottery teams. Let’s dive into an evaluation of Collin Murray-Boyles in this 2025 NBA Draft profile.

Collin Murray-Boyles 2025 NBA Draft Profile

College Career

Murray-Boyles played his entire two-year collegiate career at South Carolina with the Gamecocks. For his freshman year, Murray-Boyles had an impressive rookie season despite missing the start of the year due to illness. He played in 28 games for South Carolina, starting in 19 as a freshman. He averaged 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game. Furthermore, the 6-foot-7 forward shot 59.7% from the field and 66.7% from the line. His two-way play helped bring South Carolina back to the NCAA tournament, and he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.

As mentioned before, Murray-Boyles had shown enough in his freshman season to be a viable draft prospect for the 2024 NBA Draft. However, Murray-Boyles chose to return to school and had an even better sophomore season. Playing in 32 games as a starter for the Gamecocks, he saw improvement in almost every statistical category. Additionally, Murray-Boyles was the main focal point for South Carolina on both ends of the floor. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game. Murray-Boyles shot 58.6% from the field, 26.5% from three, and 70.7% from the free-throw line. For his stellar play this season, Murray-Boyles was named to the 2024-2025 All-SEC second team.

Strengths

Murray-Boyles possesses an impressive combination of skills that lend themselves well on both ends of the floor. In particular, Murray-Boyles has demonstrated himself to be one of the best defensive players in the draft despite his tweener status. He has the discipline and basketball IQ to wreak havoc against opposing offenses, blowing up plays whenever possible. Blocks and steals are common around Murray-Boyles as he uses his quick hands and length to create opportunities.

His strength, 7-foot-1 wingspan, and overall athleticism make him a versatile multi-positional defender. He excels in various defensive roles, whether it be defending on or off the ball. Plus, Murray-Boyles plays the game with impressive motor and toughness, always hustling to make the right play on both ends.

Offensively, Murray-Boyles shines as a scorer in the paint who can leverage his strength, feel, and footwork to exploit mismatches. He is an excellent rim finisher and can straight-up bully smaller defenders in the post and power through contact for the finish. For slower-footed opponents, Murray-Boyles has shown that he can put the ball on the floor and drive past them.

Murray-Boyles can also score off the ball as he operates well as a screener in the pick-and-roll. He leverages his scoring prowess to draw attention to himself and create open looks for teammates. He has the passing feel and vision to find those opportunities for free points, and he can make those passes from anywhere on the court. Also, he is a strong rebounder for his size, especially on the offensive glass.

Weaknesses

While Murray-Boyles has many positive qualities as a player, he also has several glaring issues. A clear concern is the fact that Murray-Boyles is only 6-foot-7 and isn’t the quickest laterally or most explosive player. At his height, there are real questions as to whether his paint-based offensive game will translate to the NBA level. Additionally, Murray-Boyles isn’t currently a shooter, nor has he been a good shooter in his career. He can knock down an occasional mid-range shot, and his shooting isn’t bad, however, he still needs to show more consistency.

Unquestionably, Murray-Boyles must develop as a shooter to become more dynamic as an offensive player. Murray-Boyles also struggled with turnovers this past season, largely due to the increased usage he’s seen. Defensively, his size issue rears its ugly head again as he doesn’t have the size to guard bigs. While some defensive concerns are mitigated by his strength and wingspan, it is unclear if Murray-Boyles can defend NBA-level bigs. Plus, his size also limits his ability to be a rim protector despite his wingspan.

NBA Comparison

Considering his unique blend of size, athleticism, and skill, two players come to mind when comparing them to Murray-Boyles. The first is none other than Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. With a lofty comparison, the two players share similar physical builds as undersized forwards who still have the versatility to guard multiple positions. They both are high-level defenders who can operate as a playmaking focal point for their team. The second comparison is former All-Star Anthony Mason. Murray-Boyles resembles Mason in their similarities as scorers since both of them do most of their offensive work in the paint. Not only that, but Mason was also a high-level defender and passer himself. Given those aspects, a Mason comparison for Murray-Boyles is fitting.