Walter Clayton Jr., the star of the 2025 NCAA Champion Florida Gators, is carrying his scorching sizzling inventory proper into this upcoming draft. At present, As of now, Clayton is projected in our Aggregate Mock Draft as a late first-round choose heading into the Mix.
Clayton initially performed his faculty profession at Iona with Rick Pitino, after which transferred to Florida for his junior and senior years, the place he excelled. He declared for the draft final season, however admitted returning to highschool was probably the greatest selections of his life.
The 2025 Remaining 4 Most Excellent Participant spoke with HoopsHype lately in regards to the draft course of, his mindset, the magical run with Florida this season, and extra.
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Walter Clayton Jr: I’m positively ready, been out at LA, signed with Klutch, so we’ve simply been within the fitness center on daily basis getting ready, me and the opposite group of fellows to prepare for what’s coming on the Mix.
WC: I imply, it’s all the time been a dream of mine since I used to be a child. One thing I look ahead to hopefully engaging in in my life and I believe simply being at Iona helped me acquire quite a lot of expertise. I’m grateful for the journey that I had and with the ability to come again residence to Florida and play for the Gators. So simply grateful for the entire journey.
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WC: It was nice. I’ve been blessed with quite a lot of coaches who’ve given me various things that I’ve wanted at totally different instances of my life. These two years with Coach P was about psychological toughness, so simply going to the fitness center with him on daily basis, listening to his voice, I needed to come into it powerful.
WC: Yeah, his complete factor was simply every day habits. You gotta ensure you get 1 p.c higher on daily basis. He was within the fitness center on daily basis having particular person exercises. In that apply, simply present up and provides it your all.
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WC: I wouldn’t say something modified so far as work sensible. I had an excellent highschool coach, was an excellent highschool program. We gained two state championships, there’s quite a lot of historical past there. However simply adjusted to the pace of the sport every time I obtained to school, issues like that sort of having that freshman soar.
WC: Yeah, for positive. I imply, these ideas sort of all the time run by way of your thoughts, however I’m large on simply being wherever my toes are at, being current within the second. So again in these Iona days, I used to be nervous about subsequent apply, the subsequent recreation, the subsequent exercise.
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WC: Nah, by no means. I ended up enjoying two years of highschool soccer. I used to be sort of compelled into it by everyone round me. Rising up the place I’m from, you gotta play two sports activities. So every time I obtained to highschool, I attempted to cease and stick with strictly to basketball, however ended up enjoying for 2 years. After which lastly made that non-public resolution to switch to basketball program, give them my all on this.
WC: For positive, I positively suppose I matured at Florida. Simply clearly was a 12 months older this 12 months. Having one 12 months below my belt, enjoying below Coach Golden. This 12 months was actually nice, man. We had nice guys on and off the ground. We spent quite a lot of time collectively. And it’s feeling every time each time you stroll into the fitness center, you see one in every of your teammates in there figuring out. So it simply instilled a belief in us, simply seeing one another within the fitness center on daily basis. We simply had one another, we trusted one another in video games, and we was in a position to present that in large moments.
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WC: Yeah, for positive. I believe the second for me personally, and I believe quite a lot of my teammates would agree was the North Carolina recreation. I’m large on simply how individuals deal with adversity. So we had been up in that recreation at halftime, they ended up coming again. It was sort of like a impartial away recreation for us in North Carolina. They ended up closing the hole. They had been up 4, I believe it was three minutes to go. All of us sort of got here again to the huddle, nobody was yelling at one another. It was nearly as if we was up by 20, you understand what I’m saying? So we had been simply speaking to one another calmly, sticking collectively. And I believe at that second, that’s after I realized we may do one thing particular.
WC: Yeah, I believe simply one other 12 months within the SEC, adjusting to the physicality much more. I felt like I used to be all proper within the first 12 months, placed on a pair kilos, it was simply higher this 12 months. Simply navigating my approach by way of the sport, simply being a greater chief, simply rising all year long. So I positively suppose my recreation matured in quite a lot of methods. Nonetheless, there’s methods for me to mature.
WC: Me personally, I’ll let different individuals do the comparability. Me personally, I don’t do comps. I kinda mentioned it already. I prefer to take bits and items from totally different guys’ video games, however I simply attempt to be me.
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WC: Donovan Mitchell is one in every of them, simply together with his full recreation. He will get in there, by no means will get too deep within the paint. So simply all of the totally different footwork he has with that. Clearly guys like [Stephen] Curry, simply their footwork. Klay Thompson, coming off ball screens, even dribble pull-ups. And simply taking a look at different guys like Jrue Vacation, attempting to take their recreation aside, seeing how I can enhance on the defensive finish of the ball.
WC: I’ve gotten a pair from a pair guys, clearly all of the Gators. In fact, Bradley Beal, Joakim Noah, after which actually it was Taurean Inexperienced, one in every of our assistant coaches this 12 months. He was a back-to-back nationwide champion. So simply having him in my nook these previous few years has been nice for me.
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WC: I believe I’ve simply been attempting to tighten every little thing up, simply be extra in line with every little thing. So clearly, you gotta ensure the jumper’s nonetheless going, you’re engaged on that heavy, simply getting in a greater form all through this complete pre-draft course of, getting my legs below me. And simply every little thing – protection – we’re engaged on every little thing.
WC: I simply wanna be no matter helps the staff win, whether or not that’s a microwave scorer off the bench, or no matter position they wanna put me in, I simply wanna assist the staff win.
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WC: It’s onerous for me personally to speak about myself, however I simply really feel like I transfer my toes nicely on protection. Simply meet individuals which might be good factors of contact, fast palms, in a position to generate steals, and quick break alternatives.
WC: For positive, taking pictures is certainly one of many largest issues within the NBA lately, such as you mentioned, with the spacing. So taking pictures the basketball is certainly a type of issues in the direction of the highest of the checklist.
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WC: Me personally? I don’t take note of them in any respect. All people has their very own opinion. The choice makers, they’re gonna make their resolution every time the draft day comes, so I don’t take note of them in any respect.
WC: Yeah, for positive, my highschool coach, man, he simply taught me, simply be current. Anytime I’d say one thing in regards to the future, one time I made a reference, I’m like, this loopy coach who’s gonna win a state championship this 12 months. He was like, hey man, we obtained apply tomorrow. So simply being current within the second, you understand what I’m saying? For those who look too far forward, it would distract you from the place you’re at within the present second.
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WC: Yeah, for positive, man. On the finish of the day, the one opinions that mattered throughout that complete event run was the folks that was residing our program. That was the one voices that mattered, and that’s the best way we stored it as a staff, and the best way we was in a position to keep so tight and make it run.
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WC: Positively my mother. Clearly, it’s been an extended journey for me and her. Her simply being there on daily basis and ensuring I had every little thing I wanted after I was youthful. So I’d say my mother.
WC: Yeah, my mother’s largest factor was simply she was letting me do no matter I needed to do with my life, actually, so long as it was on the correct path. She wasn’t gonna let me steer mistaken. So yeah, man, my mother, she simply allowed me to be myself rising up. She by no means compelled something on me. She let me do what I needed in a way of simply going after my objectives.
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WC: LeBron. Simply the best way he impacts the sport, man. He impacts the sport in any respect ranges, whether or not you want someone to attain. You’re so nervous about him scoring and driving to the basket, you gotta assist. In order that’s creating alternatives for shooters. After which individuals say he’s not an excellent defender, man. He’s a reasonably good defender, I’m not gonna lie. So I believe LeBron is the GOAT in simply all of the points of the sport that he impacts.
WC: I imply, clearly, he’s not my GOAT, however MJ. Clearly, I loved watching MJ. Simply his contact within the mid-range, his elevation on his mid-range soar sho. I beloved Bradley Beal rising up, watching his video games when he was with the Wizards. Clearly, Kyrie clips, simply watching all these guys.
