On3 analyst includes South Carolina star on NBA Draft Big Board

On Tuesday, On3 national basketball analyst Jamie Shaw released his first 2025 NBA Draft Big Board. On it, South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles featured at No. 25 overall. The inclusion is in line with most other NBA Draft mocks and projections as Murray-Boyles most commonly slots in among the first-round picks but usually isn’t in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Shaw’s Big Board ranks Murray-Boyles as the 13th forward and No. 18th overall frontcourt player. He also ranks the 6’7″ forward as the loaded SEC’s 6th-best prospect.

Shaw’s colleague at On3 James Fletcher recently projected Murray-Boyles at No. 17 to the Dallas Mavericks in his draft mock.

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Ranking Murray-Boyles as the 25th-best prospect in the draft, Shaw has some questions about how the Gamecock sophomore’s size, complete athletic profile, and lack of 3-point shooting will project to the next level. However, the national analyst still thinks highly of the Columbia native.

Said Shaw about CMB, “It is hard not to realize the production Collin Murray-Boyles puts forth. The lefty has excellent feel with touch and an understanding of angles on the floor. He will continue to have questions about his overall athleticism, self-creation, and shooting range, but he has a nose for the basketball. Can he be a four or is he an undersized five? Murray-Boyles has averaged 14.2 points on 50.4 percent shooting in SEC play. He is unselfish and due to the lack of talent around him, he has been asked this season to do things that are not what he will be asked to do at the next level. His understanding of angles and leverage is unique among his peers. A team will need to hone in on the tape and be comfortable with what he does project.”

Murray-Boyles can do a lot of things well. While his outside shot hasn’t been there as a Gamecock, he has showcased the ability to make perimeter jumpers in practice and offseason showcases. His ballhandling and passing vision are borderline elite for a non-guard. He’s strong, has good length, plays hard, and his defensive instincts are special. Murray-Boyles’ touch and feel near the basket are big-time positives, as well. If he can shore up his ball security issues and add a respectable jumper, he could be a professional for a long time.

This season, the talented forward averages 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He also leads the SEC’s qualifying players in field goal percentage with a 57.3% efficiency.

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At the time of this writing, Murray-Boyles has not made any public decisions regarding his future. While most expect him to test the draft waters (and with first-round grades, who could blame him?), he still has two more years of collegiate eligibility remaining. South Carolina basketball fans should expect him to go through the pre-draft process and make his decision after hearing from NBA voices. All things considered, he should be expected to be in the NBA this time next year.

The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25th, just over two weeks after Collin Murray-Boyles’ 20th birthday. If selected, Murray-Boyles would become the first Gamecock taken since GG Jackson in 2023. If taken in the first round, he would become USC’s first top-30 pick since Renaldo Balkman in 2006.

Collin Murray-Boyles and the Gamecocks will play again on Saturday night against Texas. Tipping off at 8:30 p.m. in Colonial Life Arena, the game will broadcast on SEC Network.

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