Freshman Collin Murray-Boyles a new starter for USC basketball. Here’s why
Collin Murray-Boyles has lived 15 minutes away from South Carolina’s campus for most of his life. The one-time AC Flora High School star has grown up surrounded by Gamecocks fans, and he was the first Class of 2023 signee for head coach Lamont Paris.
The former four-star forward and 2022 4A Player of the Year for South Carolina is becoming a steady big in the paint. His delayed start hasn’t proven to be an issue, and his physical build is paying off with a new designation.
Four games into SEC play his freshman year, Murray-Boyles has earned a starting role for the Gamecocks. He’s one of two freshmen playing this season, guard Morris Ugusuk being the other.
“I just thought the timing was good,” Paris said Tuesday after Murray-Boyles’ second career start in a home loss to Georgia. “Thought he was back healthy enough to try to I think we’re a little more explosive at the start of the game with him in there.”
Paris said he had Murray-Boyles playing as a starter during the team’s Bahamas trip over the summer. The freshman had thoroughly impressed Paris, and had essentially sealed the deal for the regular season.
Just a week before the season opener, USC announced Murray-Boyles would be out indefinitely with mono.
The Gamecocks’ head coach said Murray-Boyles’ illness was a curveball, particularly since Murray-Boyles couldn’t practice for a number of weeks. Paris said the forward spent some time at home during some of the recovery and eventually started working his way back into in-season shape. Murray-Boyles lost weight during his recovery but has put back on roughly 10 pounds.
“When we went to the Bahamas in the summer, he was a part of the starting group he had earned, he had earned that spot,” Paris said. “And then he got mono right before the game started in. So that put him all the way back.”
Paris wanted to use a two-guard, three-forward lineup, so he relied on The Citadel transfer Stephen Clark for that third forward position. Clark had made 88 eights at The Citadel, giving South Carolina’s starting roster a combined 430 starts at the beginning of the season.
Murray-Boyles made his collegiate debut against George Washington on Dec. 1, nearly a month after the season began. Paris was quick to praise the true freshman for his ability to adapt to USC’s on court chemistry, and how he was adjusting to NCAA basketball.
“I think it’s closer to where he was when he after the summer was over,” Paris said. “I think that’s the biggest improvement. But you know, he’s getting more comfortable with some concepts defensively.”
Since making his debut, Murray-Boyles has averaged six points per game and 14.2 minutes of action. Since the start of conference play, Murray-Boyles has played 21 minutes per game, averaging six points per game.
According to Paris, it was Clark himself who walked into Paris’ office and suggested it was time to put Murray-Boyles into the starting line.
“I had been thinking about it also, but that’ll tell you what kind of kid (Clark) is,” Paris said. “I mean, that’s a big time gesture. It was certainly the right time to make the change.”
So against Missouri, Jan. 13, Murray-Boyles got his first collegiate start for the Gamecocks. In the two games he’s started, Murray-Boyles has a combined 18 points and 12 rebounds. Against Georgia, he had four blocks — leading USC in its season-high eight blocks from the 74-69 home loss.
The freshman’s 6-foot-7 stature matches what Clark had at the beginning of the season. Murray-Boyles, while younger, is bringing an additional spark (and a physical presence at 231 pounds) while surrounded by Meechie Johnson, BJ Mack and Ta’Lon Cooper’s experience.
Paris has wanted Murray-Boyles to shine on the court after recruiting him for this season. It might have required a slight side step to get Murray-Boyles back to where Paris needed him to be for a starting role, but he’s confident in what Murray-Boyles will do moving forward.
“He’s grown the most that way,” Paris said. “But he’s got a chance to be a really good player.”
Next four games
- Saturday at Arkansas, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Tuesday vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 27 vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 30 vs. Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 4:11 PM.
