Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr.
Florida native Walter Clayton Jr. parlayed a successful two-year stint playing in the MAAC for Iona into an opportunity to play for the Gators. All Clayton did at Florida was win the 2025 National Championship while taking home the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award. A wildly successful Tournament run has put Clayton firmly in the first-round conversation.
Profile
2024-25 Stats: 39 games, 32.6 minutes, 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, 44.8 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 87.5 FT%
Team: Florida
Year: Senior
Position: G
Height and Weight: 6’2.00” (without shoes) and 199.0 pounds
Born: March 6, 2003 (22 years old)
Hometown: Sebring, Florida
Strengths
Simply put: Clayton is a bucket. Whether the ball is in his hands or not, Clayton is a threat to score at any moment. Teams regularly had to throw their best perimeter defender on him and send double teams to keep the ball out of his hands. The problem there is he’s an outstanding off-ball mover who only needs a sliver of daylight to get his jumper off. If teams play him too tightly, he has a strong handle and a bag full of crafty moves to get into a midrange jumper or get downhill. His motor is insane. He’s a relentless offensive player.
To be clear, there is no comparison to Steph Curry as an overall player — whether we’re talking about Clayton or really any player in basketball history. But Clayton plays a similar style, constantly in motion and making quick decisions with the ball. He’s not as prolific as a shooter as Curry (again, nobody in the history of the sport is), but he did knock down 38.6% on a healthy 7.8 attempts per game. His ability to get shots up off screens, off the dribble, going left or right, and every other which way is a rare trait. He also has parking lot range.
While his size will limit the type of players he guards at the next level, he’s stout at nearly 200 pounds and is an NBA athlete, who tested extremely well at the combine. He’s not likely to be a lockdown NBA defender but he’s smart and has super quick hands. He averaged over a steal a game throughout his college career.
Weaknesses
The biggest knocks on Clayton are going to be his age and size.
He’s a four-year senior and will turn 23 in March of his rookie season. Some might view Clayton as polished while others might believe he’s plateaued. Though he’s a decent playmaker, he’s still an off-ball guard at 6-foot-3. Defensively he will likely be limited to defending ones and smaller twos which complicates his fit in certain lineups.
For as prolific as his NCAA Tourney run was, his regular-season stats aren’t quite as robust. Is he a big-game player or did he just catch a heater at the right time? It might be a little bit of both. It’s also fair to wonder if he can play as a complementary player and not the centerpiece of an offense. It will be up to teams to figure it out.
Potential Fit in Philly
On paper, his fit isn’t ideal. His game is very similar to Jared McCain’s as an undersized two who is in constant motion and uses craftiness to overcome a lack of size. If Quentin Grimes returns and the Sixers select a guard early in the draft, it will start to get awfully crowded.
Still, if Clayton is hanging around at pick No. 35, the value might simply be too good to pass up. Skill and creation are king in the NBA these days. Daryl Morey always values shooting as well. It’s not likely, but you’d understand the thinking if he were to fall.
Draft Projection
SB Nation mock draft: No. 25, Orlando Magic
Clayton’s range seems pretty wide. SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell has him going on the higher side at pick 25. Even with the addition of Desmond Bane, the Magic need all the shooting and scoring they can get, so Clayton makes a ton of sense. Some mocks have Clayton falling out of the first round. He feels like the type of player that a lot of team will regret passing on. You simply don’t find guys that can shoot and score like this so late in the draft.
