South Carolina standout Collin Murray-Boyles saw his NBA dream come true as soon as Commissioner Adam Silver announced his selection by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick.
The 6-foot-7 forward locked eyes with longtime girlfriend Chloe Kitts and hugged her. The moment was later replayed by ESPNW on X, where the clip earned hundreds of thousands of views within minutes.
Raptors’ New No. 9 Pick Steals Hearts with Girlfriend Chloe Kitts
Off the court, Murray-Boyles and Kitts’ relationship has been a fixture of USC’s rise. The couple went Instagram-official in April 2024 after making an appearance at the Gamecock Gala.
For the unversed, Kitts was an instrumental part of the Gamecocks’ undefeated national championship run in the 2023-24 season, which included a program-record 38 wins. Together, the couple has celebrated milestones from gold-medal wins in FIBA tournaments to TikTok dance challenges.
Love and basketball 🏀
Chloe Kitts was there to watch her boyfriend Collin Murray-Boyles’ NBA dream come true ❤️ pic.twitter.com/u864d0vL9J
— espnW (@espnW) June 26, 2025
Draft night was no different. When Silver announced, “Toronto Raptors selects Collin Murray-Boyles from the University of South Carolina,” the rookie’s choice for happy tears and cheers came courtesy of Chloe’s smile. Dressed in a bright red gown with a deep V-neck cut, Kitts decided to tie her hair in a bun and kept the accessories minimal.
Sitting beside Murray-Boyles’ grandmother, she got up from her seat to hug her boyfriend. Social media clips quickly showed Murray-Boyles endearingly hugging his mother first before rushing to Chloe. The caption on ESPNW’s post read: “Love and basketball. Chloe Kitts was there to watch her boyfriend Collin Murray-Boyles’ NBA dream come true.”
In another clip, Kitts was seen wearing a Raptors cap, as she smiled and cheered for Murray-Boyles. Furthermore, as per USA Today, Kitts will be eligible for the WNBA Draft in 2026, according to the league’s current rules.
Murray-Boyles’ Journey From High School to the NBA
Murray-Boyles’ journey to this moment began long before draft night. Born on June 10, 2005, in Columbia, South Carolina, he dominated at A.C. Flora High School.
The Raptors rookie earned “Class 4A Player of the Year” honors after he led Flora to a state championship while averaging 18.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game as a junior. Later, he refined his all-around game at Wasatch Academy in Utah.
After finishing high school, the Raptors’ No. 9 pick was offered a spot by South Carolina, Appalachian State, Wofford, SMU, and Coastal Carolina. However, he chose to return home and get into USC. His commitment to the Gamecocks brought a hometown hero back to the SEC.
His freshman college season at South Carolina hit an early speed bump when Murray-Boyles contracted infectious mononucleosis and missed the first six games. Yet upon his return, he earned SEC Freshman of the Week accolades and secured a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2024.
Welcome to Toronto, Collin Murray-Boyles 🤝
Presented by @TorontoStar pic.twitter.com/G4w6DPFucp
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 26, 2025
Toronto’s brass clearly saw the same potential that Gamecocks fans have celebrated. Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game last season.
A two-way dynamo, he converted 74% of his shots at the rim despite frequent double-teams, showcased a high basketball IQ, and anchored the Gamecocks’ defense. While his three-point shot (26.5%) will need work, Toronto coach Darko Rajaković’s switch-heavy schemes could unlock Murray-Boyles’ full potential on both ends of the floor.
The Raptors, holding both the No. 9 and 39 picks, filled a key roster need with Murray-Boyles’ selection, believing his gritty interior presence and versatile defense will accelerate their rebuild.
