South Carolina went 12-20 in the 2024-25 college basketball season, so it's entirely forgivable if you haven't seen much of Collin Murray-Boyles. The Gamecocks were a miserable basketball team, and they really weren't deserving of your attention. However, Murray-Boyles was a flat-out star in his sophomore season, averaging 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The 6-foot-8 forward was the reason South Carolina even got to double-digit wins, and he was also the reason the Gamecocks didn't get blown out every night. Now, the 19-year-old is off to the NBA, where he should continue to be a force — and, for his sake, will hopefully experience more success at the team level.
With Murray-Boyles, it often felt like he was a man amongst boys in college. Maybe it's because he wore No. 30, or the fact that he's a lefty, but he looked like a smaller version of Julius Randle. Murray-Boyles will face up defenders, put his head down, and barrel toward the basket. At that point, he would either finish or draw a foul. There was very little defenders were able to do, and the fact that he had four games with at least 10 free throw attempts is proof of that. Honestly, he should be able to do much of this in the pros. The only concern is that he's more of a below-the-rim finisher than an explosive, above-the-rim athlete. But you can get away with that when you're as strong as he is, and he's very good at using his body to create space or finding angles to get layups off the glass.
It would be nice if Murray-Boyles was an inch or two taller, making him a definitive four and less of a tweener. But he's so strong that he's going to be able to bully thinner wings, and he's also quick enough to blow by bigger fours. He also has a reported seven-foot wingspan, which allows him to play a little bigger than his height. So, it's hard to imagine him not being effective when driving to the basket — and just being an overall pain for opponents in the paint. However, as is the case with many big wings and smaller power forwards, it's going to be important for him to knock down outside shots.
Murray-Boyles only went 9 for 34 from three in the 24-25 season, and his 70.7% free throw shooting isn't the strongest indicator of future success as a shooter. If anything suggests he'll be a decent shooter one day, it's his ability to make difficult shots in the short mid-range area of the court. Murray-Boyles' form isn't terrible. It even looks a little like Randle's. And it's hard to count out players with decent mechanics and a strong overall feel for the game. So, don't be surprised if he develops the jumper, even if it takes some time.
Murray-Boyles is also a player who will unlock lineup versatility for his next team. He's the type of big man who can grab a rebound, quickly turn to bring the ball up the floor, and then run some offense. He's a good passer for a big, handles the basketball with confidence, and is always in attack mode. Having a player like that puts pressure on opposing defenses, as it can be very hard to set your defense when there are multiple players who can push the tempo and run the show.
He's also going to be an awesome pick-and-roll partner, as he can either finish at the rim or exploit an unorganized defense with his passing ability. He's very good as a short-roll passer, making quick reads and comfortable delivering all different sorts of passes.
Murray-Boyles is also an impressive defensive prospect. He's not quite Draymond Green — which probably doesn't need to be said considering Green is one of the best defenders in league history — but Murray-Boyles is impressive in his ability to guard on the perimeter and size up to defend bigger players. Having his type of strength, combined with his excellent length, allows him to defend low-post players. But he also does a good job on wings, and he's a good off-ball defender due to his intelligence.
There's very little preventing Murray-Boyles from being a quality starter in the league for a long time. Players who can score attacking the rim, make the right passes, and defend multiple spots are the types that front office executives want in their organizations — especially come playoff time. And if Murray-Boyles does end up figuring out his jumper, he's going to look like a home run of a draft pick. If he ever becomes a player that defenses need to worry about along the three-point line, he could end up being a borderline All-Star. That's how good he is at everything else.