Girlfriend of Raptors top pick steals the show at NBA Draft

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A basketball star from South Carolina made a lot of new fans in Canada on Wednesday night at the NBA Draft – and it wasn’t even the player that the Toronto Raptors selected.

While Collin Murray-Boyles made headlines of his own as the ninth-overall pick by the NBA’s lone Canadian team, it was his girlfriend, Chloe Kitts, who had hoops fans going wild on social media.

Like Murray-Boyles, Kitts also is a college basketball star for the Gamecocks and helped the team win the NCAA championship in 2023.

After NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Murray-Boyles as the Raptors’ pick – and the 20-year-old appeared to utter an F-bomb, which he later explained – he began to hug family members seated at his table before eventually embracing his girlfriend.

Kitts, who stunned in an elegant, low-cut red dress, became an instant sensation online among those who were unaware of her own sizable social-media following.

“Canada, get ready to learn Chloe Kitts,” one user posted on X.

“Teaching the Raptors media room about Chloe Kitts as a WNBA prospect, love spreading the good word of wbb,” WNBA reporter Chelsea Leite wrote.

Kitts boasts more than 255,000 followers on Instagram, which is roughly 10 times more than boyfriend Murray-Boyles.

She has shared to her account many snaps from game action as well as fun times with friends and several visits to the beach.

On Thursday morning, Kitts posted a goofy photo from the night before in which she is sticking out her tongue while wearing a Raptors hat with the caption reading: “Good morning” alongside a dinosaur emoji.

And Toronto hoops fans may have a chance to see even more of Kitts – and not just while cheering on her boyfriend during his rookie season this fall.

Kitts has just one year remaining of college eligibility before she can enter next year’s WNBA draft. Perhaps fittingly, the Toronto Tempo expansion team will be entering the league next year and could have the chance to reunite the couple north of the border.

Kitts should be in demand in the draft, too.

The 6-foot-7 forward has been a key contributor to a Gamecocks team that has become a powerhouse in women’s college ball. She earned second-team All-SEC honors in his sophomore year after making the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023.

Murray-Boyles was beyond complimentary of Kitts and the impact she has had on him.

“She’s amazing for me. She knows the sacrifices that this comes with being a basketball player, especially professional basketball player. So she understands that, and she fully embraces it. She never takes anything for granted, never takes my time for granted,” he said during a post-draft conference press from New York.

“I never take her for granted, as well. Enjoying each other’s company as much as possible. She’s been really good for me.”

The newest Raptor also praised the on-court ability Kitts and the South Carolina’s women’s team.

“How they play is something that I like to watch. How fast they go is almost relatable to how fast the NBA goes and how fast paced it is,” he said. “I watch (coach) Dawn Staley a lot and see what she does, and that will be what it is for me at the next level.”

As for Murray-Boyles, he was quick to clear up any misconception about his reaction to being drafted by the Raptors.

During the broadcast of the draft, he appeared to mouth an expletive and shook his head in a scene that reminded some long-time Canadian basketball fans of the obvious displeasure star guard Steve Francis showed years ago when taken by the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Murray-Boyles quickly clarified that he had a great workout with the Raptors and the reaction was simply shock.

“Just disbelief. Toronto is the first team that I worked out for,” Murray-Boyles said. “What I said was not a bad thing. Just very thankful. That was a surreal moment. This organization has a good history.

“It was a crazy moment. Obviously thankful for the opportunity that they’re giving me. And I’m taking it full on and ready to do whatever it takes and whatever they need me to do.”

— With files from Ryan Wolstat