Walter Clayton Jr. lived the dream of each university basketball player on Monday night, becoming a national champion with his Florida Gators.
But when Clayton left Bartow High School in Florida, he was trying to choose between playing football or basketball at the university. He had offers from the Gators, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska and West Virginia to play football, but finally chose basketball and followed Rick Pitino to Iona.
After two seasons and Pitino taking the work of St. John, Clayton was transferred to the Todd Golden program in Gainesville for the 2023-24 campaign. Two years later, the Gators are back at the top with a victory for national title 65-63 over the Houston Couars.
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The Florida Gators Walter Clayton Jr. Guard celebrates after winning the 2025 National Championship game at the Alamodome. (Images Bob Donnan/Imagn)
The transfer portal, as well as the opportunities of name, image and likeness, have allowed Star College athletes in the middle -aged schools to go to the big programs with the possibility of playing immediately, building their personal brand on and off the court.
Clayton is just one of the many examples, and had advice for future athletes that could be in the same situation as before that season 2023-24, making a decision that changed his life.
“The only advice I really can give is to continue working and trust their work,” Clayton told Pak Gazette Digital while working a “turn” of celebrating Cane’s with the teammates of the Gatats Alijah Martin and Thomas Haugh team in Gainesville.
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“Nothing will be given to you. When I arrived in Florida, they had 16-17. Obviously, it was [Todd] Golden’s first year, and wanted to improve things. He promised me anything. I told him that I was going here and that I was going to work. Then, nothing will be guaranteed. Keep working. “
Clayton played for the University of his native state and quickly became a focal point of the offensive, averaging 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Initially he declared for the NBA draft, but decided that he had pending businesses in Gainesville, which was worth Monday night.
The Guard of the Florida Gators, Walter Clayton Jr., celebrates after winning the 2025 National Championship in the Alamodome. (Images Bob Donnan/Imagn)
Clayton had one of the best seasons in the history of Florida’s basketball, helping Gators to their best general record in the history of the program with 27-4, also a SEC record. He was appointed first All-American team after averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds, and the NBA draft is calling once more.
Due to its stardom, Clayton’s null assessment is $ 1.2 million, according to ON3.
Another example of how beneficial the portal and null with Martin can be, who helped Florida Atlantic University to reach the last four two years ago. His fifth and final university season was with the Gators this year after four seasons with the OWLS, and produced his best year with a maximum of 14.4 points per game as an initial guard with Clayton.
Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr. and Thomas Haugh work in a “shift” of Raising Cane’s on April 10, 2025 in Gainesville, Fla. (Gerardo Mora/Getty images to raise cane)
So, while there are detractors of the new university sports system, there are benefits for athletes like Clayton.
