In mock drafts from both Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor and SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, the Portland Trail Blazers select Collin Murray-Boyles with the 11th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Murray-Boyles is projected to be the real deal from the get-go on the defensive end, with plenty of work left to do in developing an NBA outside shot.
Murray-Boyles completed his Sophomore season with the South Carolina Gamecocks, averaging 16.8 points on 58.6% shooting from the field. He pulled down 8.3 rebounds per game, tallied 1.3 blocks, and made 1.5 steals. He attempted 1.1 three pointers per game, making a scant 26.5% of those attempts.
Position: Forward
Height: 6’ 7”
Wingspan: 7’ 2”
Weight: 231lbs
Birthday: June 10, 2005 (19 years old)
Kevin O’Conner (Yahoo):
The Blazers trended way up on defense in the second half of last season, so taking Murray-Boyles would serve as a double-down on the team’s newfound identity. Murray-Boyles 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. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status.
Ricky O’Donnel (SB Nation):
Try to find a better defensive prospect in this class than Collin Murray-Boyles, and you’ll be looking a long time. The South Carolina sophomore was a wrecking ball for opposing offenses despite being undersized as a 6’7 power forward or center. Murray-Boyles has phenomenal defensive instincts off the ball, zooming around the court to provide timely help and seal any potential openings for the offense. His long arms (7’2 wingspan) and strong base help him play bigger than his size, and his razor sharp hands helped him force takeaways all year. Murray-Boyles’ projection is a bit murkier offensively because he’s not currently a plus shooter at 23 percent from three on 34 attempts, and 69.5 percent from the foul line for his career. Instead, CMB is at his best executing dribble-handoffs, making plays as a short roll passer, and attacking off the bounce with power and touch. There will be some understandable skepticism about the NBA translation of an undersized big man who can’t shoot yet, but Murray-Boyles’ all-around production and defensive genius is hard to discount.
Both writers emphasize Murray-Boyles’ defense, and with good reason. Scouts appear to be nearly unanimous that he has what it takes to be a fantastic defender in the NBA. Get a feel for what he brings to the table on defensive end in the last third of his impressive highlight reel.