Historical look at South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles

South Carolina basketball hasn’t had the showing most hoped for during the 2024-2025 season. However, coming off of a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been even better this year. Destined to be a first-round pick this summer if he tests the NBA Draft waters, Murray-Boyles quietly has put together one of the best and most complete seasons and careers (albeit possibly an abbreviated one) in Gamecock history.

Let’s take a look at the numbers.

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2024-2025 Season

16.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.5 steals, 58.5% shooting

Collin Murray-Boyles has been exceptional this season. He is the only player in college basketball this year averaging at least 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal while shooting 55% or better.

Murray-Boyles’ 58.5% field goal percentage mark is third-best among qualified Gamecocks over the past 30 years. One of the seasons ahead of him was his own 2023-2024 effort of 59.7%. He also leads the SEC this year in field goal percentage among qualified players (Nick Pringle is slightly ahead but doesn’t quite qualify based on total shot attempts).

As a rebounder, CMB’s 8.1 boards per game is the best since Brandon Wallace pulled down 9.6 per game during the 2006-2007 season. Murray-Boyles ranks third in the conference this season.

His 1.5 steals per game is the highest number among Gamecocks since Sindarius Thornwell pilfered more than two per game during the 2016-2017 Final Four season.

Murray-Boyles’ shot-blocking prowess (1.4 per game) is better than anyone over the last 13 seasons not named Chris Silva.

This year, only Collin Murray-Boyles ranks in the top 20 in the SEC in both blocks and steals. He is ninth in the league in blocks and 19th in steals.

Murray-Boyles’ 75 assists (so far) would have been enough to lead the team in some seasons. He is second on the team this year (behind Jamarii Thomas), meaning he ranks top-2 among Gamecocks in points (1st), rebounds (1st), assists (2nd), blocks (1st), steals (1st), field goal percentage (2nd), field goals (1st), and free throws (1st).

All of these statistical achievements have been reached while Murray-Boyles has been a top-5 defender in the country (per analytics guru Evan Miyakawa’s Box Defensive BPR metric).

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Career Marks

13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.3 steals, 59.0% shooting

Because he has played just two seasons in garnet and black, judging Murray-Boyles’ career against other USC greats is difficult. However, his per-game stats tell a good portion of the story.

In South Carolina basketball history, Collin Murray-Boyles ranks second all-time in career field goal percentage. His 59.0% mark trails only big man Jimmy Foster’s 59.6%. If the Gamecocks can go on a run at the SEC Tournament (and Murray-Boyles is incredibly efficient in the process), No. 30 could pass Foster.

At 7.0 rebounds per contest, Murray-Boyles owns a better per-game average than all-time great post players like Chris Silva and Brandon Wallace, both of whom are in the program’s top 10 for total rebounds. Murray-Boyles’ career statistical effort on the glass is the second-best at USC since the program joined the SEC.

He also ranks just outside of South Carolina’s career top 10 in steals per game. He is second among post players in the category.

At 1.4 swats this season, he is the fourth Gamecock to lead USC in blocks as a freshman and sophomore. He joins Tony Kitchings, Jeff Roulston, and Mike Brittain in that regard.

Murray-Boyles is one of the most versatile players ever to play in Columbia. He’s also one of the best (and most versatile) defenders in program history. He is the only Gamecock to lead the team in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks in at least one season.

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