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ESPN NBA Draft mock puts South Carolina basketball star in top 20

by: Kevin Miller01/10/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles (Jackson Randall/GamecockCentral)
South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles (Jackson Randall/GamecockCentral)

South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles turned down a chance at the NBA last offseason. Doing so again this summer will be more difficult. Last year, Murray-Boyles received a lot of draft grades in the second round and a few in the back end of the first. This year, virtually every NBA Draft mock includes CMB in the first round.

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ESPN’s latest NBA Draft mock from analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo was no different. The duo projected Murray-Boyles to the Brooklyn Nets with the 19th pick of the draft.

The Nets, who have four first round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, could benefit from adding some athleticism and two-way ability to their frontcourt.

According to Woo, a player like Murray-Boyles intrigues NBA scouts in a big way. He is a very efficient offensive player with skills better than his numbers. He can be a tertiary playmaker for an offense thanks to great vision and above-average passing chops. His shooting form and comfort level from outside also are much higher than his attempts-per-game numbers might indicate.

When considering his fit at the NBA level, the South Carolina standout’s two biggest weaknesses on the court are his lack of height (just 6’7″) and his unproven outside jumper (he’s made just 4-of-13 from the perimeter this season).

Murray-Boyles’ defensive value and instincts are high. He’s athletic and strong, and while he doesn’t often show it, he can be a really good rim protector. He has quick feet for a man listed at 245 pounds, as well. He also possesses a knack for rebounding, both with his effort and his instinct for tracking caroming basketballs.

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Murray-Boyles has earned some lottery buzz, too, though recent projections have dropped him to later picks in the first round.

Murray-Boyles and the Gamecocks will have the chance to take the floor again on Saturday. South Carolina will host the No. 2 Auburn Tigers at Colonial Life Arena at 1:00 p.m. SEC Network will broadcast the SEC affair, and the ESPN app will stream it. Both CMB and USC have been in a little bit of a funk to start conference play, but if the Gamecocks have any shot at the upset, they will need the best version of their star sophomore this weekend.

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