Latest news with #WalterClaytonJr
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports' post-combine mock NBA draft has this Gators guard taken in first round
USA TODAY Sports' post-combine mock NBA draft has this Gators guard taken in first round The 2025 NBA draft is a month away following the completion of the NBA G League Elite Camp as well as the NBA draft scouting combine. Those events have helped weed out the aspiring amateurs who seek to take their talents to the next level. Making the leap to the professional ranks requires both skill and timing, which is why many of those who participated in the pre-draft workouts will return to the college ranks. However, what they bring back is a better idea of where they stand among their peers and what improvements need to be made in their game to guarantee a high selection. The Florida Gators had a few members of their 2025 national championship-winning roster who showed up for the camp and combine, though only one has truly emerged as a potential first-round draft pick: star guard Walter Clayton Jr. Here is where he is projected to be taken in the NBA draft, according to USA TODAY Sports Jeff Zillgitt, Lorenzo Reyes and James H. Williams in their post-combine mock draft. Boston Celtics: Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (No. 28) Senior, guard, 6-2, 199, 22 2024-25 stats: 18.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 44.8% FG, 38.6% 3PT, 85.7% FT "Named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, Clayton had 34 points in the national semifinals against Auburn and 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the championship victory against Houston. He also scored 30 points in a regional final against Texas Tech and was 21-for-42 from the field in the Gators' final three games. Has range on 3-point shots and can shoot off the dribble or pass but needs to improve as a playmaker and defender." USA TODAY Sports full post-combine 2025 NBA mock draft Here's a look at USA TODAY's post-combine NBA mock draft: Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey, Rutgers Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, Texas Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, Duke Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, Duke Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois Houston Rockets: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina Portland Trail Blazers: Derik Queen, Maryland Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) Atlanta Hawks: Egor Demin, BYU San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant, Arizona Oklahoma City Thunder: Asa Newell, Georgia Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, Michigan State Minnesota Timberwolves: Danny Wolf, Michigan Washington Wizards: Liam McNeeley, UConn Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (France) Miami Heat: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown Utah Jazz: Joan Beringer, KK Cedevita (Adriatic League) Atlanta Hawks: Nique Clifford, Colorado State Indiana Pacers: Will Riley, Illinois Oklahoma City Thunder: Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's Orlando Magic: Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) Brooklyn Nets: Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB Brooklyn Nets: Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid (Spain) Boston Celtics: Walter Clayton Jr., Florida Phoenix Suns: Noah Penda, Le Mans (France) Los Angeles Clippers: Drake Powell, North Carolina 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.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UF opens national title defense against Arizona in Las Vegas
GAINESVILLE — Florida will begin its national title defense with a high-profile matchup against national power Arizona in Las Vegas, the school announced Monday. The Gators and Wildcats will meet Nov. 3 at T-Mobile Arena as part of a doubleheader also including a matchup between Villanova and BYU. Advertisement UF defeated Houston 65-63 April 7 for the Gators third national title while Arizona lost 100-93 to Duke in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats tied for third with BYU in the Big 12, won by Houston. Florida also will face UConn on Dec. 9 at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City's Madison Square Garden. Clemson and BYU will square off during the other game of the doubleheader. Coming off a 36-4 season, coach Todd Golden's Gators will feature a retooled roster after losing the team's top three scorers, led by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. Center Rueben Chinyelu announced Monday he would withdraw from the NBA Draft and return for his junior season. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound rising junior will join rising star small forward Thomas Haugh and 7-foot-1 Micah Handlogten inside. UF awaits word from power forward Alex Condon as the 6-foot-11 sophomore from Australia considers remaining in the draft. Advertisement UF signed Princeton transfer Xavian Lee and Ohio University's AJ Brown, a native of Orlando, to rebuild the backcourt. Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland was in Gainesville Monday and Tuesday for a visit. Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Rueben Chinyelu withdraws from draft, returns to Gators
May 19 - Florida starting center Rueben Chinyelu withdrew from the NBA draft and will return to the defending champion Gators for the 2025-26 season, CBS Sports reported Monday. The 6-foot-10 Chinyelu participated in the NBA G League Elite Camp last week. Chinyelu averaged 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 40 starts for the Gators last season, his first in Gainesville. He played at Washington State as a 2023-24 freshman. So far, Chinyelu is the only starter returning from last year's championship team. Alex Condon also declared for the June 25-26 draft and has until May 28 to decide to stay in or return to Florida. Starting guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard are all out of eligibility. --Field Level Media
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ex-Arkansas PG Boogie Fland exits draft, looking for new school
May 14 - Former Arkansas point guard Boogie Fland has withdrawn from the NBA draft, ESPN reported, citing his agent Mike Miller. Fland starred for the Razorbacks over the season's first 18 games but he injured his right hand on Jan. 11 and struggled during the next two games before being shut down. He missed more than two months and returned to play as a reserve in the NCAA Tournament but the injury affected his shooting and he averaged just 4.0 points on 4-of-18 shooting in three games. He entered both the NBA draft and the transfer portal after a season in which he had averages of 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 21 games (18 starts). Fland was projected as a second-round selection in the NBA draft after once being viewed as a potential lottery pick. He was at the NBA combine in Chicago when he withdrew. Multiple reports have Fland interested in joining the national champion Florida Gators, who need a point guard after star Walter Clayton Jr. finished his eligibility. Miller, Fland's agent, is a former Florida star as well as a former long-time NBA player. Fland was a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American who committed to Kentucky while John Calipari was head coach. When Calipari departed the Wildcats for the Arkansas gig, Fland requested his release from Kentucky and later committed to Calipari and the Razorbacks. Arkansas reached the Sweet 16 this season while going 22-14. --Field Level Media
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida's Walter Clayton Jr, Alex Condon, Alijah Martin invited to 2025 NBA draft combine
Florida's Walter Clayton Jr, Alex Condon, Alijah Martin invited to 2025 NBA draft combine The 2025 NBA draft combine kicks off next week in Chicago, where the top prospects ahead of June's annual selection event will work out in front of members of all 30 professional basketball franchises. The list of 75 players was released on Saturday and included a trio of members of the national-championship-winning Florida basketball program. Point guard Walter Clayton Jr.'s name was among those invited to the combine, as well as fellow guard Alijah Marton and forward Alex Condon. Another Gator — guard Will Richard — was not selected to attend the main event, but did get the call from the NBA G League Elite Camp, which takes place just before the start of the main combine. If he performs well, he could be picked to join the other three at the mandatory NBA draft combine. Walter Clayton Jr. 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. For his efforts, 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. "Clayton is a fearless, uber-confident shot-maker who just carried his club to a national championship. The stakes and the spotlight clearly don't bother him, and when he really has it rolling, neither does the defensive pressure he faces," Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley notes. "He won't be for everyone, since he's already 22 and functions mostly as a 6'3" scoring guard. But for a team with win-now intentions and a need for additional shot-making... his production and skill could trump those concerns." Alex Condon Over two seasons in Gainesville, the Aussie played in 74 total games while starting exactly half of them (37), averaging 9.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per appearance. He played in all 36 games and earned SEC All-Freshman honors two seasons ago, totaling 277 points, 229 rebounds and a team-leading 45 blocked shots. Condon was the first Gator in program history to make his first career start in the NCAA Tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024. This year, the multi-talented forward averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while cementing his status as a starter in Florida's rotation during the 2024-25 campaign. He was recognized as the SEC Player of the Week three times and was named third-team All-SEC. "During the season, the 6-foot-11 playmaker fit a multitude of roles, learning through the bumps and bruises as he fit next to teammates who filled similar spaces or guarded opponents with a skillset he never faced before. Growing from each moment, the final result was an impact performance which shaped a national championship season," On3's James Fletcher III notes. Alijah Martin Martin was a very productive member of the roster during his lone season in Gainesville, averaging a career-high 14.4 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds with 82 assists, and 79 3-point field goals. He started 36 of his 38 appearances with the Orange and Blue, and his 546 points rank 17th in Florida history in a single season and the third-most by a transfer. His efforts helped him become the first player to start in a Final Four for two different teams. "Alijah Martin has not drawn widespread NBA draft praise, largely because of his 6-foot-2 frame as an off-ball guard. However, there is so much to like about his ability to compete on both ends that he should draw second-round interest and at least get the opportunity to play for a two-way deal this offseason," Fletcher's assessment begins. "Despite lacking the size needed to score and guard at a high level, standing well shorter than many of the matchups he could face in the NBA, there is a special tenacity present throughout his college career which promises to translate into a reliable bench role which could keep him on a roster with hopes of development." NBA draft combine information "The 2025 NBA draft combine will take place from May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois," according to the official website. "As set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, all invited players are required to attend and participate in the NBA Draft Combine. The NBA may excuse an invited player's attendance or participation at the Draft Combine and require the player to complete Draft Combine activities at a later date." 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.
