Iona's Clayton Jr. to enter transfer portal on heels of Pitino exit

Iona Gaels guard Walter Clayton Jr. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Iona's Walter Clayton Jr. to enter transfer portal on heels of Rick Pitino exit

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 3/21/23

With Rick Pitino leaving Iona and heading to St. John's, it appears as if the Gaels star player, Walter Clayton Jr., will be following the legendary head coach out the door.

It's being reported that Clayton Jr., who averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 2022-23, will be entering the transfer portal:

This is a big one, Walter Clayton Jr is simply put, one of the best scorers in college basketball.

He's a deadeye shooter from deep, an athletic finisher on the inside, and one of the very best free throw shooters in the country.

Was a sophomore last year, can play at any level https://t.co/o5JVoIxZdN
— Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) March 21, 2023

This is, of course, more bad news for Iona, which has to be reeling after it was announced that Pitino signed a six-year contract with St. John's.

Sure, the Gaels subsequently hired Tobin Anderson, who had just led his No. 16-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson team to an upset over No. 1 seeded Purdue, but losing Clayton Jr. along with Pitino is going to be a tough pill to swallow.

Clayton Jr. was huge for Iona in the MAAC tournament, averaging 20 points and 7.7 rebounds in wins over Mount St. Mary's, Niagra and Marist. Though the No. 13-seeded Gaels lost to No. 4-ranked UConn in the 1st round of March Madness, Clayton Jr. still put up 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a block.

It will be interesting to see where he ends up, and especially whether or not Pitino will try to bring him over to St. John's.

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