Collin Murray-Boyles’ NBA stock rising. Where he projects in latest mock drafts
Collin Murray-Boyles continues to climb up NBA mock draft boards.
The Columbia native and South Carolina Gamecock forward is projected to go No. 9 to the Toronto Raptors, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft released after Monday night’s NBA Draft lottery. The Athletic has Murray-Boyles going No. 10 to the Houston Rockets in its post-lottery mock draft. CBS Sports’ mock draft has him going No. 12 to the Chicago Bulls.
“Murray-Boyles has been of interest to NBA teams for the past couple of seasons, with his statistical profile holding strong appeal in analytics models and the eye test backing much of that performance,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote. “Though undersized for his position, his toughness, play finishing, passing and defensive chops are attractive.”
If Murray-Boyles goes early as expected, he will be the eighth former Gamecock to be taken in the first round of the NBA Draft. Renaldo Balkman was the last USC player to go in the first round when the New York Knicks took him 20th in 2006. Tom Riker was the highest USC player taken in the draft when he went No. 8 overall to the Knicks in 1972.
Murray-Boyles is in Chicago this week with the other NBA Draft hopefuls for the league’s annual combine, which runs through May 18. The Gamecock forward measured at 6-foot-6.5-inches barefoot, 239.2 pounds with a 7-foot, three-fourths of inch wingspan and 8-foot, 10.5-inch standing reach as players checked in Monday.
Murray-Boyles declared for the draft last month but USC coach Lamont Paris said last week he is still holding a roster spot for him should he drop out of the draft for any reason. Players have until May 28 to do that. Paris and special assistant Carey Rich were in Chicago on Tuesday to support Murray-Boyles.
“There was just no way I was ever going to try and construct a team where there wasn’t a place for Collin Murray-Boyles to come back,” Paris said. “You wanna talk about the DNA of a player syncing up with the DNA of the coach in terms of just who is as an everyday guy, an everyday defender and everyday teammate.”
Murray-Boyles averaged 16.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game this season and was a second-team All-SEC selection. He was the only Power 5 (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and SEC) player this season to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal per game while shooting above 50% from the floor.
“Teams will be particularly eager to see how Murray-Boyles shoots in workout settings, with the 3-point shot not yet a regular part of his arsenal but a key swing skill in his development,” ESPN’s Woo wrote. “There is plug-and-play appeal in the things he already does well.”
South Carolina Gamecock First-round picks
A list of players who ended their careers at South Carolina that were taken in the first round of the NBA Draft according to Basketball RealGM
2006: Renaldo Balkman (20th overall, New York Knicks)
1975: Tom Boswell (17th overall, Boston Celtics)
1974: Brian Winters (12th overall, Los Angeles Lakers)
1973: Kevin Joyce (11th overall, Golden State)
1972: Tom Riker (8th overall, New York Knicks)
1971: John Roche (14th overall, Phoenix Suns but traded to Los Angeles Lakers)
1968: Skip Harlicka (13th overall, St. Louis Hawks)
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 9:27 AM.
