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Florida Star Walter Clayton Jr. Reacts to Steph Curry Comparisons

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alec Musa | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 3:02 PM ET

For the third time in program history, the Florida Gators cut down the nets to conclude March Madness. A fringe top-25 team entering the season, Florida caught fire when the calendar flipped to March, winning 12 games in a row, including all six of their games during the NCAA Tournament.

A star-studded and veteran-savvy team, the Gators received a legacy-defining performance from guard Walter Clayton Jr. when it mattered the most. After scoring 22 points in the SEC Championship against the Tennessee Volunteers, Clayton averaged 22.3 points per game during March Madness.

During the Gators' run for a third NCAA title, Clayton scored 64 points combined in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, with former college hoops legend turned media personality Jay Williams calling him a "combination of Damian Lillard and Steph Curry."

On Friday, during an appearance on ESPN's flagship show First Take, the All-American guard from Florida was happy with the recognition and spoke on the elevation of his game. "[Steph Curry], Jamal Murray ... I just try to take bits and pieces from different players' games," said Clayton when pressed about his offensive skill set.

A fourth-year senior who started his college career playing for coach Rick Pitino at Iona, Clayton's career-high in points per game and three-pointers this year has shot him up draft boards. According to Yahoo Sports, Clayton is the 24th-ranked prospect in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, and his game remains comparable to Ben Gordon or Jordan Clarkson

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

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