Jay Williams makes bold case for Walter Clayton as Top Five NBA Draft pick

Walter Clayton Jr. has been incredible for Florida over the past two years, but he’s taken it up a notch during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. He’s scored 30 points in each of the Gators’ last two games, including a 34-point effort during their Final Four win over Auburn.

Next up for Clayton and his teammates is the national title game against Houston on Monday. Afterwards, he’s on to the 2025 NBA Draft — ESPN’s Jay Williams heaped immense praise on him ahead of all of that, proclaiming he would draft Clayton No. 2 overall come June, only behind Duke’s Cooper Flagg.

“Over the last two days, I probably talked about six or seven scouts, and a lot of scouts are starting to firmly believe that he could crack the top 10. 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,” Williams stated, via Get Up on Monday. “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 Stephen 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’s prolific offensively. I don’t know if I’ve seen a hotter player in the NCAA Tournament than Walter Clayton Jr. thus far.”

As you can tell, that’s extremely high praise for Clayton. He’s done more for his draft stock than any other player throughout this NCAA Tournament run for Florida. It’s evoked memories of one of the top championship performances in March Madness that analysts have ever seen — Kemba Walker’s time with the Connecticut Huskies, according to Seth Greenberg. 

“He’s on the Kemba Walker-type run. I mean, that’s he’s basically Baby Kemba, but he’s doing it almost at a higher level,” Greenberg added.

“Look, Kemba scored. This guy scores. He makes plays. His poise at the end of games is absolutely ridiculous. I compare it to his football background — he just gets to the next play, gets back to the huddle and gets to the next play. But this Kemba run, and what this kid’s done, is absolutely incredible. 

“The shots he takes, and not only does he make the shots, but then he gets to the next play. Turns around and gets to the next play. His poise is incredible, very similar to Kemba, we know what Kemba did — he led his team to a national championship. Walter Clayton is poised to do the same thing for Florida. He’s got tough competition, in terms of dealing with that physical Houston defense.”

Walter Clayton Jr. has a chance to cap off a memorable run with a national title, but it’ll all come down to tonight’s clash with the Houston Cougars. That one tips-off at 8:50 p.m. ET, and everything will be on the line for the Florida star and his teammates.