Toronto Raptors select Collin Murray-Boyles in 2025 NBA Draft

The professional basketball dream has come true for Collin Murray-Boyles. With the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the former South Carolina star was selected by the Toronto Raptors.

Murray-Boyles spent two seasons with the Gamecocks. He impressed as a freshman, averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 28 appearances. However, his impact only grew as a sophomore, as he improved his numbers to an average of 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 32 appearances.

Additionally, Murray-Boyles was an impressive recruit. He played high school basketball at the Wasatch Academy (Columbia, SC), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 102 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As he moves to the next level, Murray-Boyles will be expected to continue to grow and elevate into one of the top players in the NBA. After showcasing his skillset during his freshman and sophomore seasons with South Carolina, there’s no reason to think he can’t achieve that goal.

Time will tell what his ceiling is. Regardless, Collin Murray-Boyles will have a chance to not just be a good NBA player, but a great one, as he moves to the next level in this journey.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Collin Murray-Boyles

Meanwhile, On3’s resident NBA Draft analyst James Fletcher III examined the NBA future of n Murray-Boyles. He’s excited about his potential, ranking him as a strong No. 6 on his big board.

“Collin Murray-Boyles has drawn some big comparisons throughout the draft process, and is among the most interesting players to project and predict his value,” Fletcher III wrote. “He immediately enters the league as a versatile and disruptive defender capable of guarding many positions at a high level. The concern is his offensive package, which leaves much to be desired unless he develops a perimeter jumpshot.”

Additionally, Fletcher III is far from the only one enthusiastic at the idea of seeing Murray-Boyles in the NBA. RotoWire.com made projections for many of the top prospects, likening the former South Carolina star to Grant Williams.

“Projecting the kind of role Murray-Boyles will have at the NBA level will be ultimately determined by the position he plays, but all signs point to him playing more as an undersized interior presence rather than a physical perimeter player,” RotoWire.com wrote.

“One realistic comparison could be Grant Williams, who does a good job competing in the frontcourt and even playing at center if needed based on his physicality and strength despite being notoriously undersized for the position.”