Collin Murray-Boyles - 2025 NBA Draft Scouting Report
- Nick Heintzman
- Feb 8
- 4 min read
Measurements and stats current as of February 8, 2025
Collin Murray-Boyles (“CMB”) is a 6’8 sophomore center at South Carolina. He has a 7’2 wingspan, weighs 231 pounds, and will just turn 20 years old at the time of the draft. He projects as a top-75-caliber NBA player.
Projection & Statistical Analysis
CMB excels in almost every area of the game except shooting. He’s a strong, long 6’8 big who passes, handles, finishes, rebounds, protects the rim, and creates defensive plays at a high level. He has been statistically dominant in both of his college seasons, and his impact has translated to winning basketball—South Carolina ranked well outside the top 100 before his arrival but has been comfortably inside since he stepped on campus. The numbers support his two-way impact and team-friendly style of play.
On offense, he serves as South Carolina’s hub, finding cutters, attacking from the top of the key, and bullying smaller centers in the post. Defensively, he uses his length to protect the rim and disrupt passing lanes with sharp instincts.
There are some concerns. He attempts fewer than two 3PT shots per 100 possessions, and few 6’8 NBA players succeed without a perimeter shot. However, his shooting limitations aren’t a dealbreaker. Several successful NBA players—Jimmy Butler, Grant Williams, Brandon Clarke, DeMarre Carroll, Montrezl Harrell, DeMar DeRozan, Tristan Thompson, and Kenneth Faried—were also reluctant shooters in college. Some, like Harrell and Thompson, transitioned into small-ball centers, while others, like Carroll and Williams, developed into 3-and-D wings. Butler and DeRozan even blossomed into offensive stars.
CMB appears best suited as a small-ball center in the NBA, the position where he has looked most effective in college and high school. However, if he develops a reliable jump shot, his skill set and quickness could allow him to succeed as an NBA power forward. Other concerns include a lower-than-ideal block rate and dunk volume for a putative center. He also suffers from occasional mental lapses, leading to a higher turnover rate and inconsistent performances. However, these are blemishes rather than red flags when viewed alongside his strengths.
I tend to overvalue shorter bigs—I overrated Grant Williams in 2019—but Williams measured 6’6 with a 6’10 wingspan, whereas CMB is 6’8 with a 7’2 wingspan. I reserve the right to adjust my evaluation if his combine measurements disappoint, but he should have the requisite size to play center in the NBA.
Offense
CMB’s offensive game is built around his passing, ball-handling, quickness, and strength. He is a sharp facilitator who often operates on the perimeter to find cutters and shooters. He even makes lob passes off the dribble, a rare skill for a big. His handle is tight and efficient, though he relies heavily on his left hand. His blow-by ability and suddenness off the dribble are reminiscent of Alperen Sengun and Paul Millsap—most bigs, even athletic ones, struggle to stay in front of him.
As a scorer, he has the strength to overpower bigs in the post and dominated fellow draft prospects Johni Broome and Asa Newell multiple times. His soft touch around the rim occasionally evokes shades of Luis Scola. He also excels at sealing smaller defenders deep in the paint, creating easy scoring opportunities.
His main offensive weakness is his inconsistent vertical explosion. While he can dunk in traffic and finish over contests, he does not always flash the vertical pop needed to finish efficiently at the rim in the NBA. When he misses around the rim, it is usually due to a lack of elevation rather than poor touch. His screening ability also needs improvement. Despite his strong frame and playmaking instincts, he must set firmer screens to maximize his effectiveness as a short-roll passer. Turnovers are another concern. His assist rate exceeds his turnover rate, which is impressive for a high-usage big, but he occasionally throws careless, lazy passes. His offensive concentration must improve.
CMB has multiple pathways to offensive success in the NBA. He should thrive in dribble-handoff (DHO) actions, where he can showcase his passing while exploiting slower bigs off the dribble. He can create plays out of the short roll and leverage his length, strength, touch, and instincts to manufacture easy baskets around the rim. If paired with a floor-spacing five, he can punish switches and dominate smaller defenders in the paint. His 67% FT shooting suggests some potential as a floor spacer, and if he can develop a consistent three-point shot, he has the ball-handling ability to function as a power forward.
Defense
CMB possesses strong defensive instincts, length, and versatility. His 7’2 wingspan allows him to contest and alter shots at the rim. He has the strength to hold his ground in the post and rebound effectively, though his effort and focus in these areas can waver at times.
His defensive playmaking stands out. He generates a high volume of steals and disrupts offensive sets with his quick feet and anticipation. At times, he seemingly defends the entire team, rotating rapidly and covering multiple assignments. He also moves well laterally and should be able to guard both power forwards and centers at the NBA level.
The main concerns on defense are his shot-blocking numbers and rebounding consistency. Despite his tools, he does not generate as many blocks as one might expect. He also occasionally loses rebounding battles to players he has more natural talent than. Additionally, his defensive intensity fluctuates—when locked in, he can be a high-impact defender, but there are stretches where he appears disengaged. If he focuses more on defense than he does in college, he has the potential to be a strong two-way contributor.
Conclusion
CMB offers a rare mix of skill, physical tools, and intelligence that should translate well to the NBA. He impacts both ends of the floor and has multiple pathways to success. He can play as a small-ball center or thrive alongside a floor-spacing big like Chet Holmgren. Even if his shooting never develops, he should still be a great NBA player.