After winning the NCAA tournament, Walter Clayton Jr. shared his thoughts and feelings and made a statement to the basketball community ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Clayton Jr. led the Florida Gators to defeat the Houston Cougars and win the NCAA title. Since all eyes were on this tournament, Clayton Jr. showcased his talents and was interviewed soon after.
Walter Clayton Jr. Drastically Increased His Value in the 2025 NBA Draft
Listed at 6’3″, Clayton Jr. was expected to be a second-round draft pick based on his performance throughout the regular college season. However, he elevated his play drastically during the NCAA tournament and led his team past Houston in the Finals.
After scoring 11 points, seven assists, and five rebounds to help his team win the national championship, Clayton Jr. was questioned about the comparisons he had earned to NBA legends like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.
“It’s a little crazy to me for me to hear that personally. Those are two of the greats, you know what I’m saying. I got a long ways to go before I even get close to that man. Honestly, I’m just thankful for the recognition, though,” Walter said. “You obviously hear the ones, Curry, Jamal Murray, most of the guys, but I just try to take bits and pieces from different players’ games.”
Clayton Jr was then asked how he managed to stay in the moment and not let the fact that his draft value had increased dramatically get to his head.
“Yeah, just tryna stay where I’m at, you know, just focusing on the present, focusing on the moment. Obviously, you don’t wanna change anything that got me to this point. I want to keep moving forward, but yeah, I’m taking a few days to celebrate with my guys and focus on everything else later.”
Clayton Jr. and his squad have certainly earned their rest since the Florida Gators went through a long month of March Madness. Their victory in the NCAA tournament will linger in the minds of fans.
Clayton Jr. has already proven to be an elite shooter and facilitator for his team. He will have to continue to work on his game to prepare for the NBA Combine. If he performs well there, he can be drafted early in the first round as one of the top picks. Fans are left wondering what this young star’s future looks like.