Sam Vecenie praises ability of Collin Murray-Boyles, blasts South Carolina

Collin Murray-Boyles is expected to be a lottery pick in next month’s 2025 NBA Draft, having been a bright spot in South Carolina‘s 12-20 finish to the 2024-25 college basketball season. Despite his team’s poor finish, NBA Draft expert Sam Vecenie projected Murray-Boyles to be selected No. 10 overall to the Houston Rockets.

Heading into his pro career Vecenie see’s massive upside to the 6 foot 7, 245-pound former Gamecocks star. Providing analysis of Murray-Boyles, Vecenie touched on how he was able to succeed on the court last season with little help around him.

“I think he is somebody that will pass at a pretty real level. He constantly has his eyes up, he just had to do so much for that team. Like, it was a joke,” Vecenie said on his podcast, Game Theory. “But I actually like the way he passed on the move a little bit more than what I expected. I think he shows real live dribble passes, particularly with the left hand. He can’t throw them with the right … I think he good at finding cutters and timing his passes, I think he shows real anticipation in terms of how to understand defenders and can move them with his eyes in a pretty real way, only averaged two assists per game.

“But I wouldn’t take that as indicative of his passing ability. Sure, I thought his teammates just blew open shots like that he would create.”

What Vecenie believes is the most attractive piece to Murray-Boyles’ game is his play on the defensive end. He averaged 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks during his sophomore season, but that doesn’t begin to touch on his contributions on the defensive end. Vecenie also praised the former Gamecock’s hand-eye coordination and his “excellent” overall team instincts.

He noted that Murray-Boyles can close out, rarely makes the wrong decision, and above all else, is a great communicator. Even when the Gamecocks struggled down the stretch, Vecenie thought he played well in the many sets South Carolina was forced to throw at teams down the stretch last season.

During the 2024-25 season, Murray-Boyles averages 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. His efforts earned him a selection to the All-SEC Second Team. However, the biggest issue for him at the next level is his 3-point shooting. He’s a career 26.5% shooter from beyond the arc, and averaged below that this past season (23.1%).

“Can he shoot? That’s really what it comes down to, for me,” Vecenie concluded. “I don’t have that answer. And honestly, I think my guess is that he is never going to be a super high-level shooter, but I think there is some world where he can shoot.”

The 2025 NBA Draft is set for June 25 and 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Murray-Boyles likely won’t have to wait long to hear his name called by the commissioner.