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Walter Clayton Jr. Predicted to Join $165 Million Star on Needy NBA Contender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Massey | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 2:09 PM ET

The Florida Gators won the national championship behind the leadership and hot shooting of standout guard Walter Clayton Jr.

Clayton put together a strong all-around year. He was a clear leader for Todd Golden's team, especially on the offensive end of the court.

When everything was said and done, Clayton played in 39 games, averaging 18.3 points per game to go along with 4.2 assists an 3.7 rebounds. He also chipped in with 1.2 steals per contest.

In addition to his averages, Clayton shot 44.8% from the floor and knocked down 38.6% of his 3-point attempts.

With that being said, the 6-foot-3 and 195-pound guard out of Lakes Wales, Florida, has become an interesting prospect to watch ahead of the 2025 NBA draft.

Looking ahead to the NBA draft, where could Clayton end up? He's likely to be a first round pick, although he could drop into the later stages of the first round.

James Fletcher III of On3 Sports has released a new mock draft. He has Clayton staying in the state of Florida, landing with the Miami Heat to play alongside the team's $165 million star, Bam Adebayo.

Miami is a team that could badly use better point guard play. Adding Clayton could give them the perfect point guard for the Heat's offense.

As of right now, Miami has just two games remaining in the regular season. The team has a record of 36-44, which places them at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference and they have clinched a spot in the play-in tournament.

Following the trade of Jimmy Butler before the deadline, the Heat need more talent. Bringing Clayton onboard in the 2025 NBA draft would add scoring, shooting, and a potential immediate starter at the point guard position.

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

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