Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Marterry Clayton Jr. was born on March 6, 2003, in Sebring, Florida, USA. His family later moved to Lake Wales, Florida, when he was 10 years old. He attended Lake Wales High School, where he played football and basketball. During his sophomore year in basketball, he averaged 17.5 points, five rebounds, and 3.2 assists. After his sophomore year, Clayton transferred to Bartow High School. He is 6’4″ and weighs 195 lbs, and plays as a Point Guard or Shooting Guard, shooting with his right hand.
Clayton’s college career began with the Iona Gaels, where he played from 2021 to 2023. He then transferred to the Florida Gators, playing for them from 2023 to 2025. During his time with the Florida Gators, Clayton achieved significant recognition, including being a consensus first-team All-American in 2025. He led Florida to a national championship victory in 2025 and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP). Other honors in 2025 include SEC Male Athlete of the Year and First-team All-SEC. In 2024, he was named Second-team All-SEC, and in 2023, he was the MAAC Player of the Year. His college statistics show consistent improvement, with his points per game rising from 7.3 in 2021-22 to 18.3 in 2024-25. His career field goal percentage was .444, and he was an impressive free throw shooter with a career average of .879.
Walter Clayton Jr. was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft on June 25, 2025. He was subsequently traded to the Utah Jazz and signed with the team on July 2, 2025. He wears jersey number 13 for the Utah Jazz. As a rookie, he is already making an impact, with a standout performance of 20 points against the Spurs. His intensity is noted as “contagious” among his Jazz teammates. The regular season opener on October 22, 2025, is anticipated as a game where Clayton may see significant minutes.
