Ex-Iona G Walter Clayton Jr. transfers to Florida

Former Iona guard Walter Clayton Jr. is transferring to Florida, he announced Tuesday on social media.

Clayton was the Player of the Year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2022-23, playing for former coach Rick Pitino. He decided to play closer to his hometown of Lake Wales, Fla., instead of following Pitino to St. John's.

He led the Gaels in scoring, averaging 16.8 points, and added 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game over 32 games (31 starts). He also shot 95.3 percent (102 of 107) from the free-throw line to lead the nation.

He has two years of eligibility remaining.

In Iona's loss to eventual champion UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, he led the Gaels with 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers and adding four rebounds and four assists.