2025 Prospect Spotlight: Collin Murray-Boyles

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Stat sheet filler.

We need another player who can create his own offense and defend his position at an elite rate.

CMB just might fit the bill.

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Special player:

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He's been compared to guys like Julius Randle and Draymond Green.
But I'm going with a much more controversial comparison: Jimmy Butler.

As a hard nosed, blue collar two-way wing player with shaky outside shooting and elite team defense, Collin doesn't quite fit the mold of what modern scouts/offenses are looking for. But, he should be a difference maker at the NBA level regardless. CMB can create his own scoring opportunities on offense and defend 4 positions on the defensive side of the court. If he can learn to hit C&S threes from the corners, he should be an All Star caliber performer at his peak.

Swiss army knife backup PF who can actually score when given the ball in the half court.

Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina, PF)

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Size: 6'7", 245 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: USA
Pro comparison: Julius Randle, Anthony Mason

South Carolina has won only a single game since December, which won't help Collin Murray-Boyles. Neither does the team's poor guard play.

He's still averaging 15.5 points on 60.3 percent shooting inside the arc, where he's become a dual threat to back down defenders or face them up.

Though the 7-of-25 mark from three isn't likely to convince many scouts that he's on his way to becoming a shooter, he may not have to be with how effective he is using his 245-pound frame, length, hands, instincts and improvisation.

The passing and flashes of defensive movement help give Murray-Boyles a more well-rounded look, which may help ease concerns over his out-of-the-box offensive fit or jump shot.

Bleacher Report

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Only questions to consider:

Can CMB produce on a winning team?
Can he develop his 3-pt shot?

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Kid has risen from a fringe lottery pick to a top-10 lock in a matter of months?

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Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina, PF)

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Size: 6'7", 245 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: USA
Pro Comparisons: Julius Randle, Anthony Mason

Collin Murray-Boyles would certainly give any lineup a different look with his unique mix of physicality, agility, passing and defensive foot speed. He made his strongest pitch to scouts of the season with 35 points in a blowout win over Arkansas. Even without a jump shot, he continues to have success facing up defenders, overpowering them downhill and using footwork and big hands in the paint.

Though the 8-of-32 mark from three isn't likely to convince many scouts that he's on his way to becoming a shooter, he may not have to be with how effective he is using his 245-pound frame, length, instincts and improvisation.

The passing and flashes of defensive movement help give Murray-Boyles a more well-rounded look, which may help ease concerns over his outside-the-box offensive fit or jump shot.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

South Carolina MBB is a legitimately bad team.

Says a lot that CMB stuck around for a second season on a losing squad when he could have easily jumped ship to a stronger NCAA program for solid NIL Money.

Spoiler:

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[HMFFL]

I like CMB.
He is projected to be a mid to late first round pick.

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I reiterate: I believe he'll be Jimmy Butler 2.0.

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CMB doesn't fill a huge need, but some players are just special enough to make an exception.

Collin Murray-Boyles | South Carolina | Sophomore

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Height: 6'7"
Weight: 230 pounds
Age: 20

It might not be a smart move trying to pitch the idea of Murray-Boyles in an elevator. He’s a remarkable defender who blends instinct and intelligence with strength, catlike reflexes, and lateral agility that’s unique for his frame. But … he’s a tweener (strike one) who doesn’t really shoot (strike two) and whose obvious playmaking vision and instincts are stymied by a neutral assist-to-turnover ratio (strike three)—without the absurd athleticism that allowed a player like Zion Williamson to transcend such mortal limitations.

There aren’t too many success stories in the NBA with a prospect profile like CMB’s. That’s a significant barrier; teams are looking for precedents to follow. Just watch him play, though. It isn’t hard to imagine Murray-Boyles as a Swiss Army knife in the pick-and-roll on both sides of the ball. He can rumble into a blitz, creating havoc for the ball handler with his quick hands and broad frame; he can operate in the two-man game himself as either the initiator or the roller. He has the quickest hands in the class and would be a terror as a help defender digging at the nail. CMB’s brand of versatility may be unorthodox, but his particular gifts and outright motor could give shape to a defense.

On offense, Murray-Boyles is a handful in the post, where his power, footwork, and passing vision really shine. Of course, there aren’t many teams in the NBA clamoring for a 6-foot-7 post hub these days. South Carolina has given CMB plenty of room to explore the limits of his offensive repertoire—his usage rate is up there with the biggest names in college basketball. His on-ball creation is still a work in progress, as evidenced by his turnovers, but for a player with his oxlike frame, Murray-Boyles has shown the ability to vary his drives by changing speeds and accentuating either his touch or his bullying force, depending on the situation.

As reductive as it sounds, CMB’s trajectory could very well come down to his shooting. Draymond Green once had positional concerns despite outstanding defensive aptitude, but his gradual improvements from behind the arc (and a David Lee hamstring injury) ultimately helped him get his foot in the door at Golden State. It’ll be an uphill climb for Murray-Boyles, but teams have been looking for their own personal Draymonds for more than a decade, and CMB actually has the skill set, not just the chalk outline of one, to make it happen.

-Danny Chau

The Ringer

[HMFFL]

He must develop 3-point range.
I say this due to his lack of size at 6'7" and is that an accurate height......

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[Jamaaliver]

Collin Murray-Boyles | Forward | South Carolina

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Height: 6' 8"
Weight: 245
Age: 19
Sophomore

Comparisons:

• Draymond Green - CMB’s defense makes him the most worthy of a Draymond comp in my 13 years covering the draft.
  
• Paul Millsap - A solid, versatile backup who became an All-Star once he developed a 3 like CMB needs to.
  
• Julius Randle - The way CMB looks handling and driving resembles Randle. Hopefully he passes more.

STRENGTHS
Versatile defense: One of the best defenders to enter the draft in recent years. While he’s not the most vertical athlete, few players possess his blend of intellect, strength, hustle, foot speed, length, and coordination. He has a thick, big-bodied frame with a long wingspan well over 7 feet that he uses to smother opponents across positions as a highly switchable defender.

Hand-eye coordination: With amazingly quick hands and reaction time, he seems to get a finger on the ball every time an opponent drives, ruining their rhythm or forcing a turnover. He also has immaculate timing for contesting shots at the rim, with a tendency to swat layups away as if he’s spiking a volleyball.

High defensive IQ: On top of the highlight moments, he has a strong feel for snuffing out opponent actions with positioning, steals, and deflections. His team is better any time he’s in the game: South Carolina was 12.1 points per 100 possessions better on defense with Murray-Boyles on the floor, which CBB Analytics data logs as one of the largest differentials in the nation.

Rebounding: Tenacious on the boards using his strength, and a nose for the ball to grab contested rebounds, both on the offensive and defensive glass.

Post playmaking hub: Displays the feel to make good decisions and accurate passes from all areas and angles on the floor, whether from down low, at the elbows, or in the middle of the floor against zone. As a willing screener, he would make for a great short-roll playmaker in the NBA, especially if he's paired with a dynamic guard.

Interior scoring: With brute strength to muscle through defenders, he also displays smooth footwork and the aptitude to contort himself for skilled finishes. He has soft touch on his hook shots and layups. He could also be used to beat mismatches from the post. But he’ll primarily play off others, rolling off screens, cutting when he sees an opening, and attacking the glass for second chances.

CONCERNS
Shooting: Currently a liability from outside, and he wasn't a good shooter in high school, either. So, it’s purely a bet on touch that he figures out that part of his game because the results have not come yet from the field or from the line.

Tweener size: Fit will matter significantly since he is not especially tall or explosive, and hasn’t proven he can shoot. And this matters on defense, since he isn’t large enough to be a full-time defender against bigs and isn’t a traditional rim protector.

Yahoo Sports

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Spoiler:

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I truly believe that Collin Murray Boyles is gonna be a really special player in the NBA for years to come. Capable of enforcing his will upon opposing front courts.

CMB likely goes top-10...and I'd be willing to package both draft to move up and grab him.

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PJ Washington as his floor feels right...especially if he learns to hit corner threes.

NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap, PJ Washington
Offensive role: Interior Scorer/Playmaking Hub
Defensive role: Off-Ball Disruptor/Versatile On-Ball Defender

Murray-Boyles could carve a path that resembles a versatile, elite defensive forward like Paul Millsap, who improved his shooting drastically throughout his career. Millsap brought All-Star impact at his peak through his defense, playmaking and complementary scoring and Murray-Boyles could emulate that. He could end up as a valuable complementary forward akin to PJ Washington if his jumper improves.

Strengths

• All-league defensive potential stemming from his elite hands, reaction time, strength and wingspan
• Elite and recognition jumping passing lanes and reading offensive intentions
• Has the lateral quickness, strength and wingspan to defend multiple positions successfully
• Productive, efficient interior scorer throughout his college career with great touch
• Great playmaking upside with phenomenal vision and timing from the post and the short roll
• Impressive ball-handling flashes, tight control in traffic makes for some pick-and-roll upside

Weaknesses

• Non-threat as an outside shooter, attempted just over one 3-pointer a game this season
• Can force poor shots on drives/post-ups, shot selection not always crisp
• Could struggle to finish against tall shot blockers at the next level
• Lack of height will limit his ability to contest/alter shots from taller players
• Can space out defending off the ball at times

2025 NBA Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 7-14
Collin Murray-Boyles won’t be every team’s flavor, as some will prefer more traditionally sized and skilled players in their frontcourt. However, teams willing to invest in Murray-Boyles’s unique qualities could be greatly rewarded. Singular players with elite traits like Murray-Boyles can develop into stars in ways we don’t foresee.

Basketball Insiders

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