There probably wasn’t a bigger individual beneficiary from the 2025 NCAA Tournament than Walter Clayton Jr. The 6’2 guard led the Florida Gators with 18.3 ppg and 4.2 apg, along with producing 22.3 ppg during the 6-game run in the Big Dance.
That includes a 30-point effort versus Texas Tech in the Elite 8 comeback win, along with 34 to defeat Auburn in the Final Four. He may have only had 13 points in the national championship victory but most came in the second half, propelling the Gators to beat Houston to win it all.
Jazz are drafting Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2025
College basketball's Most Outstanding Player is heading to Utah 🙌 pic.twitter.com/p3wWHc2q8s
Clayton, who started his D-I career at Iona, rose up the NBA Draft boards after his performances in March. His stock had him projected to be picked somewhere in the first round, but where exactly would he end up? In the end, the national champion heard his name on the first night of the draft.
Walter Clayton Jr. selected No. 18 of 2025 NBA Draft to Utah Jazz
The Washington Wizards originally held the pick but traded it to Utah in a deal. The Jazz selected 6’8 guard Ace Bailey earlier at No. 5 overall as a potential centerpiece for the rebuilding franchise. While Clayton doesn’t have those exact lofty expectations, the team is hoping he can be a guard for the future.
The current ball-handler situation for Utah includes Collin Sexton, Isaiah Collier, and Keyonte George. While George led the team with 5.6 apg in his second season, he also shot under 40% from the field. Additionally, Sexton has reportedly been involved in trade talks as Utah continues to reshape its rebuilding roster in preparation for eventual Western Conference competition.
Landing a winner such as Clayton should be helpful for the franchise looking to get more wins on the court in the future.