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Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. named to Naismith Trophy Watch List

79417-removebg-preview (1)by:Corey Bender•10/30/24•

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Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

As announced on Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, Florida senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. has earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List.

During the 2023-24 season, Clayton led the Florida Gators with 17.6 points per game and earned second-team All-SEC honors. He finished the season 633 points scored, which is good for the fifth highest in a single season in program history.

A native of Lake Wales, Florida, Clayton also recently earned preseason first-team All-SEC honors from the media. He initially entered the 2024 NFL Draft before withdrawing his name in late May.

Last season, Clayton posted 15 games with 20-plus points and went for 33 in the Gators’ NCAA Tournament game vs. Colorado, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left in regulation.

Clayton also wrote his name in the Florida record books with 93 3-pointers made (8th/single season), 42 consecutive free throws made (tied-1st), 23 straight games with a 3-pointer (tied-8th, active streak entering 2024-25) and an .877 free throw percentage (10th/single season).

“It means a lot,” Walter Clayton said of helping the Gators reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years. “I hope it means a lot to everybody. I think it does. Just coming back and trying to build something here. This is kind of a stepping stone to keep on moving forward.”

UF’s season tips off on Nov. 4 in Jacksonville. That will be for a matchup against South Florida at 8:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

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