Latest news with #WalterClayton
USA Today
7 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Where will Florida's star guard Walter Clayton Jr. be selected in 2025 NBA draft?
Where will Florida's star guard Walter Clayton Jr. be selected in 2025 NBA draft? The 2025 NBA draft is merely weeks away, and now that the deadline for those who want to return to college has passed, the outlook for this summer's selection process is ostensibly crystal clear. For the Gator Nation, it has been a tense few weeks leading up to that deadline as star sophomore forward Alex Condon, along with center Rueben Chinyelu, explored their options in the upcoming draft. Fortunately for Florida, they both decided to return to Gainesville, teaming up to give the Gators a run at a possible two-peat. However, one former member of the Orange and Blue is locked into the NBA draft after a prolific senior campaign that carried Todd Golden's team to the promised land. That player is point guard Walter Clayton Jr., who is projected nearly unanimously to be taken in the first round later this month. Where will Walter Clayton be picked? Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney recently updated his 2025 NBA mock draft following the NCAA deadline, projecting Clayton to be selected by the Phoenix Suns with the penultimate pick of the first round at No. 29. "Plug-and-play rotation pieces on controllable contracts are like gold to the Suns, so getting Clayton at No. 29 would be huge. The Final Four's Most Outstanding Player is among this draft's best shotmakers." Walter Clayton's senior year stats The graduating senior out of Bartow, Florida, averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 campaign. He earned First-Team All-SEC and All-American honors while being anointed Most Outstanding Player in the 2025 Final Four for his title-winning heroics. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
31-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting Florida guard Walter Clayton?
Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting Florida guard Walter Clayton? Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. if he falls to them in the 2025 NBA draft? The champion Gator 3-point marksman has been compared to players as good as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, and prospects as rough as former Boston guard alum Carsen Edwards. His shooting from beyond the arc is undeniably intriguing for a team coached by the likes of Joe Mazzulla, but he has some notable warts to his game as well, especially on the defensive end of the court. Would it make sense for the Celtics to burn their No. 28 or 32 picks in the first or second round respectively on the Sebring, Florida native? The hosts of the CLNS Media "How Bout Them Celtics!" podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Makes Major Todd Golden Decision After National Championship
The Florida Gators stand atop the college basketball pedestal, winning the national championship under the leadership of head coach Todd Golden. In his third season with the program, Golden led Florida to a national title victory over Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars. Advertisement Before defeating Houston, the Gators also took down several contending teams in the NCAA Tournament, such as Auburn, Texas Tech, Maryland, UConn and Norfolk State. After leading the Gators to a national championship, Golden was awarded. According to Jeff Goodman, Golden has signed a new six-year contract, that runs through the 2031 season, making him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the country. While the amount was not discussed, Golden is now in the upper echelon of coaching rankings with established figures such as John Calipari and Rick Pitino, two of the highest-paid head coaches in the country. Golden also led the Florida Gators to an SEC Tournament title last season, capping off the year with a 36-4 record. Despite being early in his college basketball coaching career, at 39, Golden has already done what so many are eager to accomplish. Advertisement The national championship victory was Florida's first title win since 2007 and third in program history (2006, 2007 and 2025). Florida Gators head coach Todd GoldenBob Donnan-Imagn Images Last season, Golden and company were led by Naismith Player of the Year finalist, Walter Clayton Jr. The talented guard, who's headed to the 2025 NBA Draft, finished the season posting 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Golden created a powerhouse in the SEC. Related: Bill Self Sends Strong Message After Kansas Coach's Retirement Decision
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Walter Clayton hysterically asked the Florida Gator mascot to get out of his family photo twice
Walter Clayton hysterically asked the Florida Gator mascot to get out of his family photo twice Florida won the 2025 men's NCAA tournament on Monday night in San Antonio over Houston in a photo finish, leading to plenty of Gator celebrations on the court. Superstar Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. was one of the team's brightest stars during the tournament, and he soaked in the victory after his monster March Madness performance. While Clayton was taking a family photo after the game, the Florida Gator mascot learned the hard way of not being wanted in frame, at least not at that exact moment. Clayton very politely had to ask the Gator to get out of his family photo twice, which is completely innocent on both sides but still absolutely hysterical to watch. Somebody go take a photo with the Gator! WATCH: One Shining Moment 2025
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Updated conference NCAA Tournament records, win percentage after Final Four
Updated conference NCAA Tournament records, win percentage after Final Four The 2025 NCAA Tournament national title game is set: West Region No. 1-seed Florida will meet Midwest No. 1-seed Houston. Those two teams triumphed over Auburn and Duke, respectively, in Saturday night's Final Four action. Florida got 34 points from star guard Walter Clayton en route to a thrilling 79-73 triumph. Houston, on the other hand, pulled a miraculous last-minute comeback to edge Duke, winning 70-67 after trailing 67-61 with just 40 seconds remaining. The four Final Four participants were also KenPom's four best teams in the sport -- Duke at No. 1, Houston at No. 2, Florida at No. 3 and Auburn at No. 4. In addition to that dynamic creating one of the more entertaining Final Fours in recent memory, it delivered a fitting end to the season, accurately representing the regular-season landscape. The SEC holds those bragging rights after a record year of regular-season and NCAA Tournament success. The Big 12 and Big Ten argue for the second spot, with the Big Ten failing to deliver a deep NCAA Tournament contender. For more on where that race stands entering Monday's national title game, here is a full look at the record for every conference that sent at least two teams into the March Madness field: Mountain West -- 2-4 (.333) Tournament Teams, Results: South Region No. 10-seed New Mexico -- R64 win over Marquette, R32 loss to Michigan State West Region No. 12-seed Colorado State -- R64 win over Memphis, R32 loss to Maryland Midwest Region No. 10-seed Utah State -- R64 loss to UCLA South Region No. 11-seed San Diego State -- First Four loss to North Carolina The Mountain West was a few seconds from a Sweet 16 bid before Colorado State fell at the buzzer to Maryland. Still, the conference did well to send four teams to the tournament, two of which found first-round wins. Big East -- 4-5 (.444) Tournament Teams, Results: West Region No. 2-seed St. John's -- R64 win over Omaha, R32 loss to Arkansas South Region No. 9-seed Creighton -- R64 win over Louisville, R32 loss to Auburn West Region No. 8-seed UConn -- R64 win over Oklahoma, R32 loss to Florida South Region No. 7-seed Marquette -- R64 loss to New Mexico Midwest Region No. 11-seed Xavier -- First Four win over Texas, R64 loss to Illinois The Big East fell far behind the sport's other top conferences. Top-seed St. John's was upset in the second round. UConn, fresh off consecutive national titles, missed the second weekend. The conference still looks strong moving forward, especially with Kevin Willard taking the Villanova job. West Coast -- 2-2 (.500) Tournament Teams, Results: Midwest Region No. 8-seed Gonzaga -- R64 win over Georgia, R32 loss to Houston East Region No. 7-seed Saint Mary's -- R64 win over Vanderbilt, R32 loss to Alabama The WCC had a Sweet 16-caliber team in Gonzaga, though it received a tough seeding draw at No. 8, with a second-round matchup against Houston. Saint Mary's and its slow pace fell victim to a lightning-fast Alabama team. Both teams drew worst-case second-round matchups. Big Ten -- 13-8 (.619) Tournament Teams, Results: South Region No. 2-seed Michigan State -- R64 win over Bryant, R32 win over New Mexico, S16 win over Ole Miss, E8 loss to Auburn West Region No. 4-seed Maryland -- R64 win over Grand Canyon, R32 win over Colorado State, S16 loss to Florida South Region No. 5-seed Michigan -- R64 win over UC San Diego, R32 win over Texas A&M, S16 loss to Auburn East Region No. 3-seed Wisconsin -- R64 win over Montana, R32 loss to BYU Midwest Region No. 7-seed UCLA -- R64 win over Utah State, R32 loss to Tennessee Midwest Region No. 4-seed Purdue -- R64 win over High Point, R32 win over McNeese State, S16 loss to Houston East Region No. 5-seed Oregon -- R64 win over Liberty, R32 loss to Arizona Midwest Region No. 6-seed Illinois -- R64 win over Xavier, R32 loss to Kentucky The Big Ten will go another season without a national champion. Michigan State made the deepest run, falling to Auburn in the Elite Eight. Wisconsin was one of the conference's biggest disappointments. It was a consensus top-15 team in the sport, though fell to No. 6-seed BYU in the round of 32. The streak of no Big Ten national champions extends to 25 seasons. ACC -- 5-4 (.555) Tournament Teams, Results: East Region No. 1-seed Duke -- R64 win over Mount St. Mary's, R32 win over Baylor, S16 win over Arizona, E8 win over Alabama, F4 loss to Houston Midwest Region No. 5-seed Clemson -- R64 loss to McNeese State South Region No. 8-seed Louisville -- R64 loss to Creighton South Region No. 11-seed North Carolina -- First Four win over San Diego State, R64 loss to Ole Miss Duke, which held the ACC's postseason fate, collapsed against Houston. It held a six-point lead with the ball and 45 seconds remaining. Thirty seconds and several turnovers later, it suddenly trailed. That marks two crushing Final Four losses from Duke in the last few years, the other a loss to North Carolina to close Mike Krzyzewski career. SEC -- 22-13 (.628) Tournament Teams, Results: West Region No. 1-seed Florida -- R64 win over Norfolk State, R32 win over UConn, S16 win over Maryland, E8 win over Texas Tech, F4 win over title vs. Houston South Region No. 1-seed Auburn -- R64 win over Alabama State, R32 win over Creighton, S16 win over Michigan, E8 win over Michigan State, F4 loss to Florida East Region No. 2-seed Alabama -- R64 win over Robert Morris, R32 win over Saint Mary's, S16 win over BYU, E8 loss to Duke Midwest Region No. 2-seed Tennessee -- R64 win over Wofford, R32 win over UCLA, S16 win over Kentucky, E8 loss to Houston South Region No. 4-seed Texas A&M -- R64 win over Yale, R32 loss to Michigan Midwest Region No. 3-seed Kentucky -- R64 win over Troy, R32 win over Illinois, S16 loss to Tennessee South Region No. 6-seed Ole Miss -- R64 win over North Carolina, R32 win over Iowa State, S16 loss to Michigan State West Region No. 6-seed Missouri -- R64 loss to Drake East Region No. 8-seed Mississippi State -- R64 loss to Baylor West Region No. 10-seed Arkansas -- R64 win over Kansas, R32 win over St. John's, S16 loss to Texas Tech East Region No. 10-seed Vanderbilt -- R64 loss to Saint Mary's Midwest Region No. 9-seed Georgia -- R64 loss to Gonzaga West Region No. 9-seed Oklahoma -- R64 loss to UConn Midwest Region No. 11-seed Texas -- First Four loss to Xavier Remaining Teams: Florida The SEC had its terrific regular season backed up in the tournament. Seven teams made the Sweet 16, four made the Elite Eight, two the Final Four and one, Florida, the national title game. The SEC is currently the sport's power. Big 12 -- 14-6 (.700) Tournament Teams, Results: Midwest Region No. 1-seed Houston -- R64 win over SIUE, R32 win over Gonzaga, S16 win over Purdue, E8 win over Tennessee, F4 win over title vs. Florida West Region No. 3-seed Texas Tech -- R64 win over UNC Wilmington, R32 win over Drake, S16 win over Arkansas, E8 loss to Florida East Region No. 6-seed BYU -- R64 win over VCU, R32 win over Wisconsin, S16 loss to Alabama East Region No. 4-seed Arizona -- R64 win over Akron, R32 win over Oregon, S16 loss to Duke South Region No. 3-seed Iowa State -- R64 win over Lipscomb, R32 loss to Ole Miss West Region No. 7-seed Kansas -- R64 loss to Arkansas East Region No. 9-seed Baylor -- R64 win over Mississippi State, R32 loss to Duke Remaining Teams: Houston Houston is on an all-time tournament run, with wins over Gonzaga, Purdue, Tennessee and Duke. The Big 12 also sent BYU and Arizona to the Sweet 16, plus Texas Tech the Elite Eight. With a Houston national title, it has a minor argument for the sport's best conference. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
