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South Carolina basketball alums team up for big NBA Summer League showing

by: Kevin Miller07/14/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina basketball alum AJ Lawson throwing down a dunk during NBA Summer League. Photo credit: Toronto Raptors | @Raptors on Twitter/X
South Carolina basketball alum AJ Lawson throwing down a dunk during NBA Summer League. Photo credit: Toronto Raptors | @Raptors on Twitter/X

On Sunday, the Toronto Raptors played an NBA Summer League game. That might not sound overly interesting on the surface, but the Las Vegas showdown against the Orlando Magic was first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles’ Summer League debut and the second game of the Summer League season for fellow South Carolina basketball product AJ Lawson.

In a game the Raptors would go on to win 89-86, the two former Gamecocks lit up the box score.

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Despite looking a little uncomfortable on the floor at times, Murray-Boyles scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds. He had some good moments defensively and flashed the ability to operate as a secondary or tertiary creator on offense. Physically, CMB made his presence felt on both ends. He pushed other players around and stayed balanced through contact. Adding to his stat line, he logged three steals, one assist, and a block. His best stretch of play came in the third quarter. On defense, he came flying in from the backside for a block before racing downcourt for a putback dunk in traffic.

Lawson, though, might have been the best player on the floor on Sunday. The 6-6 wing had just five official shot attempts from the floor, but he made all of them en route to a team-high 21 points. He canned both of his 3-point attempts and added nine free throws. During a Raptors 18-2 run to take the lead, Lawson scored 11 points. In 24 minutes on the floor, the former All-SEC guard logged 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. It was the second game in a row in which Lawson dropped at least 20 points.

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The Raptors are 2-0 so far in Summer League, and with Lawson’s hot start and Murray-Boyles’ comfort level only set to rise with more experience, Toronto could be a team to watch to bring home the Summer League title.

GG Jackson, another former South Carolina star playing in Summer League, was one of the standouts during the Salt Lake City, Utah portion of the schedule. He scored 47 points across two games, shooting an efficient 19-for-33 from the field. In his only Vegas action, Jackson logged 16 points on 50% shooting, secured four rebounds, and dished out two assists.

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