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Walter Clayton Jr. draws comparison to 2 NBA legends from ESPN analyst Jay Williams
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Walter Clayton Jr. has established himself as an all-time Gator Great as the first first-team All-American in Florida basketball history. Clayton is having a sensational NCAA Tournament, and is getting some national love with comparisons to household names at the next level.
Ahead of the national championship game with Clayton and the Gators taking on Houston, ESPN’s Jay Williams heaped some heavy praise on the Florida guard.
“Over the past 2 days, I’ve probably talked to 6 or 7 scouts. A lot of scouts are starting to firmly believe that he could crack the top 10 (in the NBA Draft),” Williams said on Get Up. “I have to tell you, from watching him up close, I could make a case that he could be the second or third pick in the NBA Draft. I know Dylan Harper. I know Ace Bailey. They have a ton of talent, but the run this guy is on, the shots he makes – combine Dame Lillard with Steph Curry.
“I’m not saying he’s going to reach the pinnacle of who those players are, but his game, to me, seems like a marriage between the two. He is prolific offensively. I don’t know if I’ve seen a hotter player in the NCAA Tournament than Walter Clayton Jr. thus far.”
Mentioning Clayton alongside Lillard and Curry is setting expectations extremely high for Clayton in the NBA. Lillard has been playing professionally since 2012, making the NBA All-Star Game 9 times and earning All-Star MVP in 2024. Curry, a pro since 2009, is recognized as one of the all-time great 3-point shooters. He’s an 11-time All-Star and 2-time MVP. Both Lillard and Curry are members of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Clayton is already in the company of an all-time great. He is the first player since Larry Bird to score 30 points in both the Elite 8 and Final Four.
For now, Clayton’s only concern is getting one more victory for Florida. Tipoff in San Antonio is set for 8:50 p.m. ET, with the national championship game airing on CBS.
.@RealJayWilliams and @SethOnHoops on Walter Clayton Jr.'s play in the NCAA tournament
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 7, 2025
"A lot of scouts are starting to firmly believe that he could crack the top 10. … I could make a case that he could be the second or third pick in the NBA draft." pic.twitter.com/jLRz3WnKZB
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
