South Carolina's Collin Murray-Boyles declares for 2025 NBA Draft

Collin Murray-Boyles had been the most productive player for the past two seasons at his hometown school in South Carolina as well as in all of the NCAA. That’s now earned him the chance at being one of the top selections into the association this summer.

Murray-Boyles has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Tuesday. That’s with him having played his way into being a lottery pick per projections going into the draft in June.

“NEWS: South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles, a projected top-10 pick, will declare for the 2025 NBA draft, he told ESPN,” Givony tweeted this morning.

Murray-Boyles, a Columbia, South Carolina native, did it all as a versatile player for the Gamecocks. He averaged 13.8 points (59% FG, 23.1% 3PT), 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks in filling the box score during his college career there. Those stats were up to 16.8 points (58.6% FG, 26.5% 3PT), 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game as a sophomore this season in going on to earn a selection to the All-SEC Second Team.

Murray-Boyles could have elected to transfer elsewhere in college. Instead, though, he kept to his roots and earned his opportunity at the next level with South Carolina.

“This is exactly how I thought my college career would turn out,” Murray-Boyles said to Givony. “South Carolina had a vision for me to lead the team. They gave me freedom to express myself.”

Murray-Boyles also had a chance to go into the draft after his freshman season. However, with his development this year helping to boost his stock, he’ll likely be one of the first players off the board in this draft instead, per mocks and big boards by On3’s James Fletcher as well as at ESPN, with comparisons for himself of his game to the likes of a Draymond Green or a Julius Randle.

“When people that know basketball watch me play, it’s the smaller things that standout,” said Murray-Boyles to ESPN. “I’m not one to get oohs and aahs, but know what it takes to win games and impact a team positively. I hang my hat on how hard I play and my unselfishness. I love to play defense.”

“That’s the biggest step, improving my mechanics and getting more comfortable with my three-point shot,” Murray-Boyles said of his biggest improvement going into the league. “I’ve seen a drastic difference so far. My shot looks better, and it’s going in a good direction so far.”

Murray-Boyles was the best part of the past two seasons for the Gamecocks. That has now meant playing his way into, with his decision, likely being one of the first selections to hear his name called into the NBA.