Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Basketball Guru Heavily Praises Walter Clayton Jr.

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joshua Rosenblum | Last updated Apr 6, 2025 8:14 PM ET

As the Florida Gators prepare to face the Houston Cougars in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Monday at 8:50 ET, all eyes are on a standout player who has NBA scouts and analysts buzzing.

In a recent ESPN broadcast from San Antonio, with the iconic Alamo as a backdrop, analysts praised the Gators’ star Walter Clayton Jr., raving about his dazzling playmaking abilities.

Basketball guru and former Duke Blue Devil Jay Williams had high praise for Clayton Jr., declaring, “I would take him with the 2nd pick in the draft.”

This bold statement, shared by @gatorsszn on X, underscores the player’s meteoric rise and potential to shape the future of professional basketball.

The Gators, boasting an impressive 35-4 record, have clawed their way to the championship game, overcoming tough opponents in the tournament.

Their journey echoes the program’s golden era of the mid-2000s, when they won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, producing NBA talents like Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Joakim Noah—three top-10 picks in the 2007 draft.

Now, history may be repeating itself after several sensational performances from Clayton Jr., who has been they key piece for this Gators squad amidst their national championship run.

At 6’3” and 195 lbs, Clayton’s athleticism, shooting prowess, and playmaking ability have earned him a projected second-round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Receiving such high praise from one of the most intelligent basketball minds in Williams will only boost Clayton Jr.'s draft stock.

With one more game, the national championship against the Cougars, Clayton Jr. has a chance to etch his name into Gators lore with one last vintage performance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: