Former South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been named one of ten rookies selected to participate in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game, according to an announcement from the NBA. The event, which highlights top rookie and sophomore players, will take place on February 13 at the Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers. The game is part of the NBA All-Star 2026 festivities and will be broadcast on Peacock.
Murray-Boyles currently plays for Toronto and has appeared in 37 games this season, starting 17 times. He is averaging 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Among all NBA rookies this season, he ranks in the top fifteen for several statistical categories including points (14th), rebounds (9th), assists (16th), steals (8th), and blocks (7th). His field goal percentage stands at 53.6%, placing him eighth among rookies.
The Columbia, South Carolina native made history as the ninth overall pick by Toronto in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft—the first Gamecock to be selected in the first round since Renaldo Balkman was picked twentieth overall by New York in 2006. Murray-Boyles is also noted as being the first South Carolina player to be chosen within the lottery selections under the modern draft format established in 1985.
During his final college season with South Carolina in 2024-25, Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while starting all 32 games. He recorded eleven games with at least twenty points and nine double-doubles that season, earning Second Team All-SEC honors and First Team NABC All-South Atlantic District recognition.
Naismith Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady are set to serve as honorary coaches for this year’s Rising Stars mini-tournament; Austin Rivers will coach a team composed of G League players.
Selection for participation was determined by votes from NBA assistant coaches who ranked both rookie and sophomore candidates on ballots submitted by each team.
The player pool for this year’s Rising Stars event includes ten rookies such as 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) and Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans). Eleven sophomores were also selected along with seven G League players.
