It’s draft day for South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles.
The Gamecock sophomore and former A.C. Flora High standout is expected to hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft that will be held Wednesday and Thursday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center (8 p.m. on ESPN/ABC).
Murray-Boyles is attending the draft in person and spent most of Tuesday doing interviews and taking part in various photo shoots with other NBA Draft hopefuls.
“It’s been amazing,” Murray-Boyles told reporters Tuesday of the draft experience. “Everywhere I have been around, I have been able to see guys that I have watched multiple times on TV and talk to them. It is crazy and not everyone could do that. So just have insight from guys that have been through ups and downs and have had successful careers, it has been unmatched.”
Murray-Boyles cited the Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson as one of those specifically that he’s been able to talk to during the draft process. He declined to say which teams he’s worked out for in recent weeks. He’s projected to go between No. 10 and No. 16 in final mock drafts.
Murray-Boyles is one of 24 players with a green room invitation at the NBA Draft, the first such honor for a Gamecock player.
Among those who will be joining Murray-Boyles in New York are his mother Yvonne, father Sean, brother James (who plays professional basketball overseas), USC coach Lamont Paris and special assistant Carey Rich, Joshua Staley (his coach at A.C. Flora), Paul Peterson (his coach at Wasatch Academy), his Upward Stars AAU coach Curt Wheeler and Gamecocks women’s assistant coach Khadijah Sessions, who helped trained him when he was in high school.
Chloe Kitts, Murray-Boyles’ girlfriend and South Carolina women’s basketball standout, also is expected to attend the draft. The two USC basketball stars have been dating for more than a year.
They were regulars at each other’s college games, with Murray-Boyles making the trip to see Kitts and the USC women play in this year’s Final Four. Murray-Boyles said during an interview on SEC Network he enjoyed seeing Kitts get a triple-double more than his career-high 35-point game against Arkansas.
They also filmed a commercial together for Zaxby’s/Uber Eats on Instagram and are known for making plenty of TikTok videos together.
NBA Draft projections for Collin Murray-Boyles
Where Collin Murray-Boyles is projected to go in the latest mock drafts:
Bleacher Report: San Antonio Spurs (No. 14)
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman on Murray-Boyles: “He should be able to provide a unique punch of offense and physicality with his low-post effectiveness, driving, rebounding and playmaking flashes.”
CBS Sports: Memphis Grizzlies (No. 16)
CBS’ Kyle Boone on Murray-Boyles: “He’s a throwback player who can win with efficiency in the paint and add physicality on defense.”
ESPN: Chicago Bulls (No. 12)
ESPN’S Jonathan Givony on Murray-Boyles: “It’s not easy to peg Murray-Boyles’ draft range, with most pointing to No. 10-16, which includes some of the most analytics-influenced teams in the NBA: Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Memphis. NBA teams say Murray-Boyles rates historically well in their draft models because of his strong passing, foul-drawing ability, two-point shooting, defensive playmaking and youth, which will appeal to several teams in this range.”
Sports Illustrated: Phoenix Suns (No. 10)
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney on Murray-Boyles: “The Suns are somewhat of a wild card here, with few known connections to lottery-level players throughout the pre-draft process and more moves potentially to be made. Murray-Boyles is a logical target as a high-feel role player and impactful defender who doesn’t need the ball in his hands.”
The Athletic: Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 15)
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie on Murray-Boyles: “He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Oklahoma City plays. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level, and I also wonder if you can get away with him as a small-ball five.”
The Ringer: Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 15)
The Ringer’s Kyle Mann on Murray-Boyles: “One of the most, if not the most, cerebral and versatile defenders in the draft, and he also plays the right way, always playmaking or orchestrating with the goal of getting his team the right shot at the right time.”
USA Today: Atlanta Hawks (No. 13)
USA Today Staff on Murray-Boyles: “Although he’s a bit undersized for a power forward, Murray-Boyles plays with intense effort and determination, which will very quickly please his NBA coaches. He also has plenty of strength to finish at the rim and was the SEC’s No. 3 rebounder.”
Yahoo: Portland Trail Blazers (No. 11)
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Conner on Murray-Boyles: “The Trail Blazers made amazing progress this season across the board, and following the All-Star break they had a top-five defensive rating. Murray-Boyles would serve as a double down on that identity since he operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball and inhales rebounds. He’s a special defensive presence, and offensively he’s a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel.”