Murray-Boyles Selected for NBA Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend

NEW YORK – Former South Carolina All-SEC forward Collin Murray-Boyles was one of ten rookies selected to play in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game the NBA announced on Monday. The annual showcase of premier young talent, featuring a mini-tournament with four teams and three games spotlighting the league’s top rookies and second-year standouts, is set to be played Friday, Feb. 13, at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome starting at 9 p.m. (ET) on Peacock as part of NBA All-Star 2026.

Murray-Boyles has played in 37 games (17 starts) for Toronto so far this season and averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. Amongst NBA rookies, he ranks 14^th in points, ninth in rebounds, 16^th in assists, eighth in steals and seventh in blocks per game. Murray-Boyles is shooting 53.6% (119-of-222) from the field, including 34.9% (15-of-43) from 3 from three-point range, with three double-doubles. His field goal percentage amongst rookies is 8^th in the NBA.

Murray-Boyles, a Columbia, S.C. native, made history over the summer after being selected ninth overall by the Raptors in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He became the first Gamecock selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since Renaldo Balkman was picked No. 20 overall by the New York Knicks in 2006. Murray-Boyles also became the first South Carolina player selected in the lottery (top-14 selection) in the modern NBA Draft format (started in 1985).

Murray-Boyles enjoyed a stellar final season for the Gamecocks in 2024-25, averaging 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He started all 32 games and had a career-best 11, 20-point games and nine double-doubles en route to earning Second Team All-SEC honors and First Team NABC All-South Atlantic District distinction. He led the team in points (538), rebounds (264), steals (47) and blocks (43) and was second in assists (77). Murray-Boyles was the first Gamecock since Jimmy Foster in 1983-84 (18.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg) to average at least 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Naismith Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will serve as honorary coaches for the Castrol Rising Stars mini tournament. Austin Rivers will coach the G League Rising Stars team.

NBA assistant coaches determined the pool of 21 NBA players, with each team submitting one ballot. Voters ranked 10 rookies and 10 sophomores, with more points assigned to higher placements. The top 10 rookies and top 10 sophomores by point total earned spots. The final spot was awarded to the higher-scoring player among the 11th-ranked finishers in each class. The pool includes one more sophomore than rookie based on total points received.

2026 Castrol Rising Stars Player Pool

Rookies
• Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
• Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)
• VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
• Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
• Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
• Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
• Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
• Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
• Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)

Sophomores
• Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
• Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
• Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
• Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
• Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
• Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
• Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
• Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat)
• Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)

NBA G League Players
• Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars)
• Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)
• David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs)
• Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers)
• Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)
• Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
• Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)

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