Walter Clayton Jr.

Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton with Florida in 2023
No. 1 – Florida Gators
PositionShooting guard
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2003-03-06) March 6, 2003 (age 21)
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
College
Career highlights and awards

Walter Marterry Clayton Jr. (born March 6, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Florida Gators of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He previously played for the Iona Gaels.

Early life and high school career

Clayton grew up in Lake Wales, Florida and initially attended Lake Wales High School, where he played football and basketball.[1] He averaged 17.5 points, five rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a sophomore.[2] Clayton transferred to Bartow High School after his sophomore year.[3] He averaged 15.4 points, 4.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game during his first season at Bartow as the Yellow Jackets won the Florida Class 6A state championship.[4] Clayton committed to playing college basketball for Iona over offers from East Carolina, Florida A&M, Charleston, Stetson, and James Madison.[5]

Clayton was considered a better college prospect in football and began playing the sport as a freshman in high school at the urging of his childhood friend, Gervon Dexter.[6] He had offers to play football from Florida, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska, and West Virginia.[7]

College career

Clayton averaged 7.3 points per game during his freshman season at Iona.[6] He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year as a sophomore after averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game during the regular season.[8] After the season, Clayton entered the NCAA transfer portal.[9]

Clayton ultimately transferred to Florida.[10] He also had considered transferring to St. John's and playing for his former Iona head coach, Rick Pitino.[11]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
* Led NCAA Division I

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Iona 32 4 16.1 .434 .357 .787 2.2 1.6 0.8 0.3 7.3
2022–23 Iona 32 31 30.4 .455 .431 .953* 4.3 3.2 1.8 0.6 16.8
2023–24 Florida 36 36 31.0 .432 .365 .877 3.6 2.6 1.1 0.6 17.6
Career 100 71 26.0 .441 .385 .881 3.4 2.5 1.2 0.5 14.0

References

  1. ^ "Bartow's Walter Clayton put in hard work to become complete player". The Ledger. April 3, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Clayton tops Elite 8 list for boys basketball". The Ledger. November 24, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  3. ^ "Two-sport star Clayton transfers from Lake Wales to Bartow". The Ledger. August 16, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "All-County: Clayton's focus on basketball paid off big". The Ledger. March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bartow's Clayton signs with Iona". The Ledger. November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Braziller, Zach (March 15, 2023). "Walter Clayton Jr. traded football for basketball and it's paying off". New York Post. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Singer, Mike (June 23, 2019). "2021 Florida ATH Walter Clayton Is The "Total Package"". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Iona men's, women's basketball stars, coaches win 2022-23 MAAC awards". The Journal News. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Reports: MAAC POY Walter Clayton Jr. to transfer from Iona". Marietta Daily Journal. Associated Press. March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Bass, Tobias; Moore, CJ; Vecenie, Sam (April 11, 2023). "Walter Clayton Jr. transfers to Florida: How former Iona guard fits with Gators". The Athletic. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Braziller, Zach (March 23, 2023). "Iona star Walter Clayton choosing between St. John's and Florida". New York Post. Retrieved April 11, 2023.