Collin Murray-Boyles

Murray-Boyles attended A.C. Flora High School in South Carolina as a high-schooler before transferring to Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, for his senior year. He averaged 15.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a senior, numbers that made him a consensus four-star recruit and a Top-100 prospect before enrolling at South Carolina. He spent two years at the University of South Carolina and experienced impressive growth between his freshman and sophomore seasons. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 28 appearances (19 starts) as a freshman, but he elevated his game to another level in his sophomore year. Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in his second year with the program while starting in each of his 32 appearances. Murray-Boyles is an interesting prospect who's yet to embrace what his best fit might be at the NBA level, though he has shown the ability to play both frontcourt positions at the college level. He doesn't have the shooting touch to be a perimeter threat as a small forward, but he compensates for that with above-average strength and an elite defensive feel for the game. On the same note, he might be a bit undersized to play as a power forward, but his instincts more than make up for his apparent lack of size, although he might still grow an inch or two as he fills out his frame. He's a smart passer who can thrive in pick-and-roll situations, and he also delivers value on defense due to a high floor and elite ceiling. 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. 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.