Playing against top competition, South Carolina basketball star shines at Nike event

This week, South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles has been in Beaverton, Oregon competing at the Nike Basketball Academy. As 1 of 37 total prospects and 1 of just 15 college players invited to the event, the young man known as CMB has gotten the chance to compete against other future NBA talents and go through workouts with former and current professional players, scouts, coaches, and front office executives.

The four-day event ends on Thursday, and the Gamecock forward has been one of the top performers at the Nike event.

ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony praised the rising sophomore's "impressive skill, feel, physicality, and two-way versatility" and even went as far as to say that Murray-Boyles made a "significant impact in every scrimmage and drill."

The official EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) social media account provided updates on the goings on in Beaverton, and those updates included a mention of CMB as one of the top performers during Monday's session.

While at the Nike Basketball Academy, Murray-Boyles spent most of his time working with the big men but worked some on his outside game, too, something that South Carolina basketball fans are hopeful will translate to the 2024-2025 season. The expansion of his offensive game could be the key that moves the Gamecocks from their status as a good team to a great one and from an NCAA Tournament hopeful to a March Madness lock.

Head coach Lamont Paris has spoken highly of his star sophomore this offseason, as well, and it is clear that he will counted upon to be the team's best player this year.

This season, South Carolina basketball will be contending for their first back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament since the 1990s. Last year, USC was a 6-seed in the Big Dance after finishing tied for 2nd in the SEC standings.