Walter Clayton Jr. was one of the most prolific players in men’s college basketball this past season, and his efforts powered the Florida Gators to their third-ever national title on the collegiate parquet.
The Orange and Blue finished with a 36-4 overall record, earning both a Southeastern Conference and NCAA Tournament title in one of the best seasons ever witnessed inside the O’Connell Center. As a result, several players are being eyed by the professional ranks ahead of the 2025 NBA draft next month.
Among them is Clayton, who CBS Sports writer Cameron Salerno believes will be a first-round pick in late June, according to his latest mock draft. He has the 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound guard as the No. 21 pick overall by the Utah Jazz.
What CBS Sports says about Walter Clayton Jr.’s draft stock
“This is my third mock draft this draft cycle, and I’ve had Clayton going at this spot in every one of them,” Salerno begins. “Clayton could go higher, but this spot seems like a good floor on draft night. Clayton is a fearless shotmaker. I had the chance to watch him up close during Florida’s national title run. He’s going to have a very successful NBA career.”
Walter Clayton’s rankings and stats
- PROSPECT RANK: 17th
- POSITION RANK (PG): 5th
The graduating senior out of Bartow, Florida, averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 campaign. He earned First-Team All-SEC and All-American honors while being anointed Most Outstanding Player in the 2025 Final Four for his title-winning heroics.
2025 NBA draft information
The first round of the 2025 NBA draft will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn starting on Wednesday, June 25, with the second round landing on the following day; the start time for both is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The draft will be broadcast live on ABC and ESPN.
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