College basketball's top sophomores list features South Carolina basketball forward

South Carolina basketball fans are optimistic about their team's chances of another strong season. After a 26-8 season sent the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the Final Four run of 2016-2017, another big year won't be easy, but if USC is to return to the Big Dance again, much of the load will fall on the shoulders of the team's top returning player.

Rising sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles had a breakout freshman campaign last year. Even though he missed some of the preseason and some of the out-of-conference schedule battling mononucleosis and then had a ramp up period upon his return, Murray-Boyles became the best overall player on the team by the time the season ended.

Because of that, it comes as no surprise that CMB is receiving a fair amount of preseason love from the media. In addition to NBA Draft projections, the Columbia native has been featured prominently on several preseason lists. This week, social media outlet College Basketball Report jumped on the Collin Murray-Boyles bandwagon by ranking the athletic forward as the 4th-best rising sophomore in the country.

Murray-Boyles only trails Texas Tech Red Raiders transfer addition JT Toppin, Memphis Tigers portal add PJ Haggerty, and Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Josh Hubbard on CBR's list.

CMB and the Gamecocks will face off with 6 players on the top-30 list as Josh Hubbard (3rd; Mississippi State Bulldogs), Myles Rice (7th; Indiana Hoosiers), Mackenzie Mgbako (10th; Indiana Hoosiers), Alex Condon (14th; Florida Gators), DJ Wagner (17th; Arkansas Razorbacks), and Aden Holloway (18th; Alabama Crimson Tide) are on the schedule so far.

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris will be counting on Murray-Boyles to be that good this season. If he can live up to the lofty expectations, though, the 2024-2025 version of the Gamecocks will be in contention in the SEC once again.