2025 NBA Mock Draft: Latest projections include 3 Florida Gators

The latest round of 2025 NBA mock drafts have been released, and three Florida Gators are projected to hear their names called. That includes senior guard Walter Clayton Jr., who continues to be pegged as a first-round pick.

Yahoo! Sports released its latest two-round mock draft this week along with The Athletic and Sports Illustrated. Updated first-round projections also came from CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and SB Nation.

Five publications have Clayton as a first-round pick, along with On3 and ESPN. He’s being projected to Miami at No. 20 (Athletic), Oklahoma City at No. 24 (SB Nation), Orlando at No. 25 (Yahoo!) and Phoenix at No. 29 (CBS and B/R). Sports Illustrated projects Clayton to Boston early in the second round (No. 32).

Two more Gators are pegged as a second-round picks in sophomore forward Alex Condon and senior guard Alijah Martin. Condon is projected to San Antonio at No. 38 (Yahoo!) and Oklahoma City at No. 44 (Sports Illustrated). Martin is projected to Phoenix at No. 53 (Athletic) and Memphis at No. 56 (Yahoo!).

Florida sophomore center Reuben Chinyelu is not included in any mock draft projections at this time. Like Condon, Chinyelu also declared for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

What they’re saying about Walter Clayton Jr.

The Athletic: “Clayton is this year’s big NCAA Tournament riser. The Florida guard was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 points and four assists this year while shooting 45 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. But more than that, the level of shot-making that Clayton can showcase at times is truly special. He can get to his shot from any footwork or any angle on the court, especially from distance. He’s comfortable using a change-of-pace dribble to get to a stepback, and then can also attack and drive off that to score around the rim. He’s a former high school quarterback and has real athleticism out there. The questions for me are twofold. First, his ball-screen reads weren’t always on point. He was terrific against Houston in the championship game, but the picture often looked a bit cloudy in terms of his decision-making. Then, on defense, the real question is if he’s a bit too far in-between positions. He got better this year as a senior but wasn’t always reliable throughout his college career. That’s concerning for an older, undersized player. Still, teams love Clayton’s toughness, and I would expect to hear his name called in the first round.”

Yahoo! Sports: “After selecting Clifford earlier in the first round, here’s another shooter for the Magic. The best shooter in all of March Madness. Clayton hit some of the clutchest shots all tournament long, leading Florida to the NCAA championship game before playing with great effort on defense and making some slick passes to help lead them to the title. Throughout his collegiate career, he showed major limitations as a defender and as a decision-maker. But he’s a fearless shooter with the versatility to take any shot at any moment. And that’s precisely what the Magic need.”

Bleacher Report: “Clayton is a fearless, uber-confident shot-maker who just carried his club to a national championship. The stakes and the spotlight clearly don’t bother him, and when he really has it rolling, neither does the defensive pressure he faces. He won’t be for everyone, since he’s already 22 and functions mostly as a 6’3″ scoring guard. But for a team with win-now intentions and a need for additional shot-making—a description that likely fits the Suns regardless what they do with Kevin Durant this summer—his production and skill could trump those concerns.”

CBS Sports: “Clayton was the star of Florida’s national title run while averaging 22.3 points on 43.5% shooting from beyond the arc in those six NCAA Tournament games. There are concerns about his decision-making and approach to defense, but the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four is such a skilled and unique shotmaker that he’s worthy of serious looks deep in the first round.”