Gators G Walter Clayton Jr. earns coaches first-team All-SEC honors
After landing on the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List roughly 24 hours ago, Gators senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. has now earned coaches first-team All-SEC honors.
A native of Lake Wales, Florida, Clayton recently earned preseason first-team All-SEC honors from the media as well. He initially entered the 2024 NFL Draft before withdrawing his name in late May.
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.
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).
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“It means a lot,” 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.”
Clayton, who played shooting guard a season ago, has since transitioned to point guard. That switch played a pivotal role in him deciding to return to Gainesville for another season.
“One team told me they want a true point guard. Another team told me they want me for me, just want to see a little bit more defense,” Clayton said. “Defense and protecting the ball. Those are two main things (to work on).”
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.
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